Serman & Tipsmark A/S
From six weeks to two weeks – shorter lead time through 3D-print design optimisation
Serman & Tipsmark works with hydraulics and, among other things, builds test rigs for hydraulic components. The company saw potential to optimise various components with 3D printing and therefore chose to explore this further in the design optimisation programme Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM).
In the video, design engineer Rune Simonsen talks about Serman & Tipsmark’s experiences with 3D printing.
The case – overview and context
In the DfAM programme, the North Jutland-based company Serman & Tipsmark looked at two possible items for 3D printing – a pallet and a “key”, respectively. It turned out that the costs of 3D printing the pallet were immediately too high, so the company chose to take a closer look at optimising the key. The key is constructed with a so-called spline at one end, and at the other end there is a hole with a keyway – in other words, a relatively complex part that takes time to machine.
Results from programmes with Dansk AM Hub
- 79% weight reduction compared to the original
- Shorter lead time: From 6 weeks to 2 weeks
- 32% price reduction with 3D printing in aluminium
- The choice fell on titanium, where the price is comparable to traditional manufacturing
“We chose to take part in the programme because we have many projects where there are only a few pieces of each part. The potential is to identify where we can optimise weight – so if it is a hydraulic block, we might be able to do some flow optimisation and make smaller parts than we usually do,” explains Rune Simonsen, design engineer at Serman & Tipsmark.
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About the company
Serman & Tipsmark A/S
Maltvej 12, 9700 Brønderslev
Number of employees: 57
Since 1994, Serman & Tipsmark has designed, developed and produced custom-engineered hydraulic systems for a very broad, global customer segment.
Value and impact for the company
The potential benefits for Serman & Tipsmark of having the key 3D printed include time savings, as production time is approximately halved compared to conventional machining. There is also a benefit in terms of reduced weight, and although it is not critical for this part, it still matters because the price of 3D printing decreases as material is saved. Several design iterations of the key were made, and the result ended up being a weight reduction of up to 79% in titanium – and in aluminium, the price could be up to 32% lower than conventional manufacturing.
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