Velo3D
Velo3D
Shrouded Impeller printed without supports on the Sapphire System.
Metal 3D printing company, Velo3D has partnered with Praxair Surface Technologies (PST), a leading producer of premium specialty alloy-based solutions primarily for the aerospace and energy sectors, to develop process parameters for new materials.
The partnership will see Velo3D develop parameters for new alloys with Praxair’s TruForm powders to be used with the company's laser fusion metal AM Sapphire System. Praxair’s 718 and 64 TruForm powders have already been validated for the system and going forward, PST will be qualified as an approved supplier of powder for released parameter sets for Velo3D’s AM solutions.
“PST is constantly looking for ways to help expand the number of applications that are addressable by metal additive manufacturing, and Velo3D is a great company to partner with in this effort,” said Andy Shives, AM business manager at PST. “Velo3D’s technology enables the building of difficult geometries, which opens up new opportunities for additive manufacturing across a broad range of applications.”
Velo3D launched its Saphire System last summer based on its Intelligent Fusion technology and Flow print preparation software. The California-based company says qualification of powder from leading powder suppliers will allow customers to purchase powder directly from a supplier that has demonstrated its powders work in the machine.
“We have a focus on advancing powder and atomisation technology, and this goes hand-in-hand with Velo3D’s focus on advancing the laser powder bed process,” Shives continues. “Both companies are supporting efforts around process and quality control, which are critical for faster adoption of metal AM, and we look forward to pushing the envelope together.”
PST, a subsidiary of industrial gases company, Praxair, began marketing fine, spherical titanium powder for use in 3D printing in the aerospace, automotive, industrial and medical markets in 2015. The company now supplies a full line metal powders for AM including cobalt, copper, iron, nickel and titanium-based alloys.
“Velo3D was founded to enable customers to manufacture any design they can conceive,” said Stefan Zschiegner, chief product and chief marketing officer at Velo3D. “Praxair is a trusted alloy solution provider and the right kind of partner for Velo3D’s rigorous standards for metal powder quality. Together, we drive adoption of additive for manufacturing.”
