Thirteen Advance Orders for New Large-Format Metal-AM Machine

November 4, 2020

Stay informed with the 3D Metal Printing newsletter

Velo3D has debuted its Sapphire XC large-format 3D metal printer and announced 13 advance orders for the system, with delivery beginning in fourth quarter of 2021. The XC, with the term denoting “extra capacity,” reportedly can increase production throughput by five times and reduce cost-per-part by as much as 75 percent as compared to the existing Sapphire system.

“Printing larger parts without the additive manufacturing constraints of support structures is highly attractive to many industrial end-users,” says Benny Buller, founder and CEO of Velo3D. “For the first time, customers will be able to 3D-print uncompromised geometries, with the highest confidence in part quality, in a large-format system. Quality assurance with large scale components is critical because the economic impact of failed builds is very significant.”

Blockchain-Enabled AM Labs Earn Gold Medal in USAF Advanced Manufacturing Olympics

Simba Chain, employing a strategy of blockchain-enabled additive manufacturing (AM) labs for battlefield use, captured gold in the U.S. Air Force’s inaugural Advanced Manufacturing Olympics, held virtually October 20-23. The blockchain startup won the Supply Chain Marathon division, scoring top honors in a field of 16 finalists.

The Advanced Manufacturing Olympics brings together technology companies, startups, traditional and nontraditional U.S. Department of Defense contractors, academia, and students to help solve some of the Air Force’s most significant sustainment issues. Simba Chain entered the competition with a multidisciplinary team and was rewarded for its award-winning performance with a check for $100,000.

The competitors were challenged to deploy AM to keep aircraft, weaponry, field hospitals and infrastructure operational. Simba Chain’s winning response combined portable, self-contained units, referred to as Rapid Additive Manufacturing Labs and capable of printing metal, plastic and composite parts on demand, with the interconnectivity and cybersecurity of blockchain. The labs were tasked to deliver unprecedented AM capabilities to forward-deployed military units, front-line medical staff and relief organizations.

Industry News

3D Systems to Sell Cimatron and GibbsCAM Businesses to Battery Ventures
Speakers Added for 5th AM Forum Berlin in March
EOS, TEES Partnership for AM Professional Development Announces Successful Sessions
New Members for Additive Manufacturer Green Trade Association
Solar Atmospheres of California, Kittyhawk Form Partnership for Heat Treating, HIP
Terem Named Markforged President and CEO, Mark Transitions to Chair

In This Issue

Manufacturing Aluminum Alloys With 3D Printing

Researchers have successfully 3D printed 6061 and 7075 aluminum alloys by adding nanoparticle grain refiners to the metal powders prior to processing.

Mastering Workflow for Part Qualification
Follow the advice offered here when stepping through the development of an additive manufacturing workflow for part, machine and process qualification.