ORNL is a research leader in the production of large-scale 3-D printed materials, refining industrial processes to decrease costs and increase efficiency. Under the agreement, Cincinnati Incorporated may make, use or sell the lab’s patented developments of enhanced additive manufacturing with a reciprocating platen that enables the manufacture of parts much larger and with higher quality than current standards.

The speed of next-generation additive manufacturing offers new opportunities for the automotive, aerospace and prototyping industries, said Lonnie Love, leader of ORNL’s Manufacturing Systems Research group.

Our goal is to demonstrate the potential of large-scale additive manufacturing as an innovative and viable manufacturing technology. We want to improve digital manufacturing solutions for the automotive industry.

—Lonnie Love

The additive manufacturing agreement is the latest in a series of ORNL advances that include the production of a 3-D printed vehicles at DOE’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility, at ORNL, including a reproduction Shelby Cobra that debuted in early 2015.

A portfolio of ORNL patents associated with large-scale additive manufacturing is available for licensing on a nonexclusive basis.

Founded in the late 1890s as the Cincinnati Shaper Company, Cincinnati Incorporated is one of a handful of US-based, build-to-order machine tool manufacturers. The company has shipped more than 50,000 machines in more than 100 years of operation.

This technology development was supported by DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy – Advanced Manufacturing Office (AMO). AMO supports applied research, development and demonstration of new materials and processes for energy efficiency in manufacturing as well as platform technologies for the manufacturing of clean energy products.