Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT, Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT

In 2012, the shared aim of advancing the development of pioneering technologies and concepts by using resources more efficiently in the energy supply and mobility sectors brought together the Aachen-based Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT, the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT and 21 partners from industry to form the "AdaM" Innovation Cluster. "AdaM" had a total budget of € 10m and was timetabled to take 2.5 years. It was funded by the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, the Federal State of Nordrhein-Westfalen and by partners from industry.

Within the framework of the project, the partners developed innovative manufacturing concepts and new component designs in order to bring about a considerable increase in the level of energy conversion efficiency, reduce CO₂-emissions and conserve resources. The entire process chain was reproduced and validated – starting with the design through additive manufacturing to finish machining operations using actual demonstrator units.  This approach enabled the engineers to dovetail manufacturing technologies and process steps with one another, adapting them perfectly to meet evolving requirements.  

In particular, the partners applied the integrity of this adaptive concept to steam and gas turbine components for the power plant industry, small gas turbines for decentralized heat and power cogeneration, aero-engines and turbochargers for modern automotive drives. The partners subsequently analyzed conventional processes such as turning and milling as well as additive processes including Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) and Laser Material Deposition and further developed these.

The development work was carried out in the five technology clusters listed below

• Design
• CAx-Technologies
• Machining
• Laser
• Roadmapping

The aim of making a major contribution to increasing the efficiency of resource use has been achieved. Among the advances made by the researchers, individual technologies were taken successfully to the next level and complete manufacturing process chains were analyzed and demonstrated. All results are documented in the Final Report.

Building on the results of AdaM, the two Fraunhofer Institutes in Aachen, the IPT and the ILT joined forces with the Chair of Laser Technology and the Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering WZL of the RWTH University, Aachen to set up the "International Center for Turbomachinery Manufacturing" (ICTM) in October 2015. Two years later, the new Chair of Digital Additive Production DAP took over the activities of the Chair of Laser Technology.