The University of Innsbruck in Austria has installed a Calibur3 electron beam (eBeam) metal additive manufacturing system developed by UK-based Wayland Additive. The equipment will be used by the university’s Faculty of Engineering Sciences to advance research into metal materials and manufacturing processes, with particular attention to difficult-to-process and high-temperature alloys.
The system has been installed in the Department of Mechatronics, within the university’s Group for Materials Science. Its arrival marks the introduction of this generation of powder bed fusion electron beam (PBF-EB) technology in Austria.
One of the main features of the Calibur3 is Wayland’s NeuBeam technology, which uses Active Charge Neutralisation to manage electrostatic charging during the manufacturing process. Conventional electron beam powder bed fusion systems generally require powder beds to be pre-sintered to reduce the risk of smoke events caused by electrical charge buildup.
By addressing this requirement during the build process, NeuBeam allows researchers greater flexibility in controlling processing temperatures. This is particularly relevant when working with alloys that require specific thermal conditions.
Lukas Zelger, coordinator of the university’s Materials Science Group, said the system’s process monitoring capabilities and charge neutralisation technology would support a data-driven approach to materials research. He also highlighted its potential to explore processing conditions between conventional laser-based and electron beam powder bed fusion technologies.
The machine also features an open architecture that allows researchers to adjust scanning strategies, beam parameters and energy input while processing materials. Its Small Build Tank (SBT) configuration is expected to make experimentation more practical, particularly when researchers work with limited quantities of expensive or specialised metal powders.
Senior Scientist Jakob Braun highlighted the system’s temperature management capabilities and high-speed, high-resolution thermal imaging. These features could help researchers study and adjust alloy microstructures to achieve desired material properties.
The installation was funded through the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) under its R&D Infrastructure Funding Program 2024.
Wayland Additive supplied the equipment following an open tender conducted by the university. The installation is expected to expand the institution’s research capabilities in metal additive manufacturing and support further investigation of high-performance alloys.
Representatives from both organisations are also scheduled to attend Formnext in Frankfurt in November, where they will discuss research developments and applications of the technology.
source:Calibur3 System Installed at the University of Innsbruck to Drive Metal AM Materials Research | Wayland Additive
