The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering is richer for a new laboratory for metal 3D printing. The lab boasts a 3D printer, worth approximately half a million euros, which will be used to create prototypes and tool parts, as well as to develop technologically challenging components from different metals, stainless steel and tool steel.

Tanja Mohorič, director of the Strategic Research Innovation Partnership of the Slovene automotive cluster SRIP ACS+, which has more than 100 members, explained that the new laboratory is an innovation connecting science and Slovenian economy. Together with SiEVA company (an abbreviation for Synergistic ecologic safe vehicle), they came up with the idea of establishing a 3D printing lab, because 3D printing is becoming very popular in automotive industry. SiEVA was established by several Slovenian companies related to automotive industry, like Cimos, Hidria, Mahle Letrika, Kolektor etc.

Besides companies, funds for the laboratory also came from the Ljubljana Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, which offered space for the lab. This will enable mechanical engineering students to get to know the workings of a real system and not merely through prototypes.

3D printing is increasingly useful
‘When a good year ago we were thinking about what is topical for the Slovene automotive industry, we thought of new technologies. One such is 3D printing, the other is virtual development. But 3D printing is more tangible and a lot can be invested in it. That is why we opted for this project, which resulted in this laboratory. 3D printing is a new technology used mostly in aircraft industry, energy industry and recently also in medicine. It is being ever more quickly introduced into automotive industry as well,’ explained Miloš Šturm, director of SiEVA.