The new John Deere 6R and 6M tractors, manufactured at the John Deere plant in Mannheim, Germany, will feature 3D-printed stainless steel fuel system valves (thermal diverter valves).
The new valves, manufactured by 3D printing, will be able to maintain fuel temperature, thereby improving tractor efficiency during cold weather, especially during extreme cold.
John Deere itself does not directly manufacture the valves for the fuel system. The fuel valve bodies are manufactured, or rather, printed by GKN Additive, using the innovative new HP MetalJet technology, which is called metal jetting. Allowing the production of complex stainless steel parts with perfect geometry and precision.
John Deere engineers had previously worked with GKN Additive to print a prototype fuel system valve. After long and thorough testing of the samples and successful tests in the field, and considering the cost effectiveness of the additive technology, the decision was made to use the 3D printed fuel solenoid in series production.
The main difference between printed valves from the fuel system valves manufactured by casting and milling, is better characteristics, strength and durability with less weight and cost-effectiveness, as they are half the price.
“Our focus on innovation and sustainability is at the heart of Deere and everything we produce and do for our customers”
said Jochen Müller, global digital engineering manager at John Deere.
“We are proud to be among the first in the agricultural industry to take advantage of 3D printing for both prototyping and production of final parts. By using industrial 3D printing platforms for polymers and metals, we are opening up opportunities to create more efficient, reliable and environmentally friendly equipment.”
Jochen Müller added
In addition, in the future, Deere, plans to create a 3D printed digital warehouse.
“We have a huge spare parts organisation that is very, very interested in 3D printing. Usually spare parts are kept in stock for about 20 years, sometimes even longer, and it’s very difficult to predict what to do with existing stock and how to replenish the stock if it runs out.”
Mueller said.
This will reduce the amount of storage space and also reduce the number of spare parts in the warehouse. It will also solve the problem of off-the-shelf parts.
There will be a large digital spare parts catalogue, which will be manufactured on customer request.