Foaming with infrared radiation on a large scale

Currently an infrared radiation device is set up at the Fraunhofer-Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology (IWU). The infrared radiation device has been designed during the research project "Rapid infrared foaming of metallic parts in an industrial scale" in collaboration with the industrial partner XERION®. The irradiated area covered by the device is 2,500mm x 1,250mm, which is the middle size standard of the sheet metal industry. Final claim of the research project is to get the ability for foaming sandwiches and metal foam plates in that dimension. The infrared radiation device is modular designed by the use of 60 identical infrared modules. For a homogeneous temperature distribution during the heating process different simulations has been done.