The study investigates the use of additive manufacturing technologies in the production of hydraulic components, focussing on 3D-printed valves and manifolds with integrated pressure sensors. Additive te- chnologies such as Metal Binder Jetting (MBJ) and Selective Laser Melting (SLM) enable design freedom, component consolidation and optimisation of internal geometry to reduce pressure losses and mass. In the study, metal valves were manufactured and tested using the MBJ process, which enables high pro- ductivity and the production of complex structures without supports. A comparison with the SLM process shows the advantages of the MBJ process through higher production speeds, lower costs and a reduced need for support structures. Flow and pressure measurements showed that the additively manufactured valve manifold has a lower pressure drop of around 4 MPa at the same flow rate, which means greater efficiency. In addition, the 3D-printed valve body is 67% lighter than the conventionally manufactured one. The results confirm that additively manufactured components are suitable for series use in the hydraulics industry, as they offer better efficiency, shorter assembly times and the possibility of design optimisation despite higher costs compared to conventional parts.
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