Trans-Machine Additive’s Darin Thomas on the future of EBM technology
This month, Trans-Machine Additive, the additive manufacturing division of Trans-Machine Technologies, took delivery of two Arcam EBM machines - an EBM Q20plus and an EBM A2X - at their 22,000 square foot facility in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Darin Thomas, CTO of Trans-Machine Additive, sees the technology as one which can bring all of the advantages of 3D printing to a production scale.
Many companies are just beginning their additive manufacturing journey and understanding the potential of electron beam melting systems can offer. However, with more than a decade’s tenure in the industry, Darin advocated early for the technology. He was part of the pioneering team at North Carolina State University’s IMST program, which, in the mid-2000s, invested in some of the first commercial Arcam machines and conducted early research and development into additive manufacturing under Dr Denis Cormier and Dr Jerry Cuomo.
Now at Trans-Machine Additive, Darin sees Arcam and its EBM technology as an integral part of its strategic growth plans, as it expands further from its roots in academia into additive manufacturing. The new machines will provide the company with an expanded service portfolio that produces lightweight, cost-effective components in a range of metals for many industries.
Trans Machine also plans to invest in other technologies such as laser melting (Concept Laser’s DMLM technology), 3D printed sand casting, as well as large format wire and polymer printers to bolster its service portfolio, but Darin remains a passionate advocate for the untapped, further potential for EBM;
“Trans-Machine Additive sees the efficiencies of the EBM technology from Arcam as being a disruptive technology not only in the existing aerospace and medical fields, but also in other emerging markets for additive manufacturing such as tooling, robotics, ship building, and in the not too distant future. Even the automotive market will start to adopt the technology in larger volumes,” said Darin Thomas.