Additive manufacturing of parts looks set to upend the supply of components globally. A small-scale trial of 3D manufactured parts is helping Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions and leading mining company, Boliden, explore the potential.
Sweden has a long and noble history of mining, with evidence of human activity dating back to prehistoric times. But old does not mean primitive, as a trial of cutting-edge technology between Sandvik and Swedish mining and metals giant Boliden shows. Additive manufacturing – or 3D printing as it is more commonly known – is maturing fast, and has progressed from printing plastic components to now being able to print ceramics and metals. To discover the potential of the technology, Boliden has teamed up with Sandvik to run a trial that will see machine parts printed digitally and installed on underground drill rigs.
The trial with Sandvik involves a set of specially redesigned components printed digitally at a Sandvik-managed facility in Italy, with their performance being monitored on machines in Boliden’s underground mine worksites – first in Sweden, then in Ireland. At least in theory, the 3D metal parts could perform as well – or even better – than traditionally manufactured items. The first components have just been put into operation in the Garpenberg mine, with performance still to be evaluated.