The vision of using metal additive manufacturing (AM) for distributed manufacturing — 3D printing the same industrial product within specification at geographically dispersed locations — is a compelling one. While conventional manufacturing technology has delivered in-country products on a global basis for decades, that has often involved dedicated, high-cost production assets and personnel lacking flexibility. […]
Additive manufacturing amps up fuel cells, drives down cost
Keeping the electricity grid up and running through summer heat waves and winter deep freezes is an ongoing balancing act. Power lines that stretch for miles are vulnerable to wind and fire. Surges in demand for heating and cooling strain capacity can lead to blackouts. Air pollution is an ongoing issue. Although alternative-energy solutions such […]
Spotlight on Women in Engineering – Ana Montes
Ana Montes Senior Technologist at Velo3D B.S. and M.S. Mechanical Engineering – Universidad de los Andes (Bogotá, Colombia) PhD Mechanical Engineering – Northeastern University (Boston, MA) Originally from Colombia, Ana moved to the USA to pursue a PhD in Mechanical Engineering with an emphasis in Material Science. After graduation, she started as a Junior Process…
Spotlight on Women in Engineering – Maritza Ruiz
Maritza Ruiz Director of Process Engineering, Velo3D PhD Mechanical Engineering UC Berkeley Maritza is the director of process engineering at Velo3D and has been with the 3D printing company for nearly 5 years. As the director of process engineering, Maritza oversees the qualification of new metal alloys in the company’s Sapphire family of printers. She…
Velo3D qualifies M300 tool steel for use in Sapphire family of printers
Velo3D, Inc. announced that M300 tool steel, an ultra-low carbon alloy that delivers very high strength and hardness, is qualified for use in Sapphire printers. Velo3D has already seen extensive interest in the alloy from automotive manufacturers for use in high-pressure die cast inserts, injection molding, and other types of tooling. The first M300 parts […]
Hermeus to 3D print parts for its Mach 5 Chimera engine and Quarterhorse aircraft
Velo3D, Inc. announced that Hermeus, a company developing hypersonic aircraft for defense and commercial applications, has acquired an original Sapphire and a large-format Sapphire XC that is designed for high-volume production. The printers, both of which will be calibrated for Inconel 718, will be used to build parts for Hermeus’ Chimera engine and Quarterhorse aircraft. […]
Taking off like a rocket: metal AM for small satellite delivery systems
Humankind launched the first orbital satellite in October of 1957. Sixty-five years later, more than 5,000 satellites are in service, with roughly half of them placed into low earth orbit (LEO) over the past two years. Much of this activity comes courtesy of entrepreneur Elon Musk, whose SpaceX-launched satellite internet constellation Starlink will soon account…
3D Printed metal parts go hypersonic—at zero miles per hour
The term “hypersonics” is getting renewed attention these days, with the release of a U.S. government report about unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs) with “impossible” flight behavior—at speeds exceeding the critical Mach 5 level that defines the word. [Reference: June 25, 2021, Office of the Director of National Intelligence Preliminary Assessment: Unidentified Aerial Phenomena. Whether you […]
Velo3D announces that StarHagen has bought a Sapphire 3D printer
Velo3D, Inc. announced that StarHagen, a provider of high-quality production parts for aerospace companies, has joined the Velo3D Contract Manufacturer Network with the purchase of an end-to-end solution from the additive manufacturing technology company. The Sapphire printer acquired by StarHagen is calibrated to print in Inconel 625, a nickel-based superalloy designed for high-strength, and to […]
Velo3D announces the Sapphire XC 1MZ for large-format metal 3D Printing
Velo3D, Inc., announced a new addition to its Sapphire family of printers with the Sapphire XC 1MZ. The printer allows customers to print parts one meter in height—with a total build volume that is twice that of the Sapphire XC and nine times larger than the original Sapphire—increasing the addressable use-cases of Velo3D’s end-to-end metal […]
3D print complex rocket components for low-cost, small satellite delivery systems
Humankind launched the first orbital satellite in October of 1957. Sixty-five years later, more than 5,000 satellites are in service, with roughly half of them placed into low earth orbit (LEO) over the past two years. Much but not all of this activity comes courtesy of entrepreneur Elon Musk, whose SpaceX-launched satellite internet constellation Starlink […]
Velo3D qualifies copper alloy for its Sapphire family of 3D printers
Velo3D, Inc., has qualified the copper-chromium-niobium alloy GRCop-42 for use in its Sapphire family of printers. The first GRCop-42 demo parts will be on display at the Velo3D RAPID +TCT booth (#1508) in Detroit on May 17-19. The GRCop-42 alloy was developed by NASA to manufacture parts in need of high-strength and high-conductivity, such as […]
Lockheed Martin uses Velo3d’s additive solution in its Additive Design & Manufacturing Center
Velo3D, Inc. announced that Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) is using Velo3D’s end-to-end additive manufacturing solution for its Additive Design & Manufacturing Center, which pilots new additive manufacturing technologies for production deployments in Lockheed Martin’s Space division. Velo3D was selected for its quality assurance capabilities made possible through its Assure software, which provides layer-by-layer traceability of […]
Aerojet Rocketdyne uses metal 3D printing technology to make a critical flight component smaller and lighter
On the afternoon of December 19, 1972, Apollo 17’s command and service module CSM-114 “America” splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, bringing its crew and cargo safely home. The event marked the end of NASA’s eleven-year lunar program and humankind’s final visit to the Moon. Thanks in part to Los Angeles, Calif.-based Aerojet Rocketdyne—a manufacturer […]
Velo3D announces Flow 3.0 to support print preparation for large parts
Velo3D, Inc. announced the release of its Flow 3.0 print preparation software. The new version supports larger models of parts that are able to be manufactured on the company’s Sapphire XC (Extra Capacity) printer, which can produce parts that are up to 400% larger than the Sapphire printer. Flow 3.0 also supports the scheduling of […]
Velo3D qualifies superalloy for use in its Sapphire family of printers
Velo3D, Inc. has qualified the nickel-based superalloy powder Amperprint 0233 Haynes 282 for use in its Sapphire family of printers. The powder was produced by Höganäs AB—a world leader in metal powder production—under license from Haynes International, Inc., and is designed for high creep strength, thermal stability, weldability, and fabricability not commonly found in other […]
Velo3D debuts on the New York Stock Exchange under “VLD” ticker following merger with JAWS Spitfire Acquisition Corporation
Velo3D, Inc., (NYSE: VLD), a leading additive manufacturing technology company for mission-critical metal parts, announced shares of its common stock have begun trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “VLD” following its merger with JAWS Spitfire Acquisition Corporation (“JAWS Spitfire”). The combined company will now operate as Velo3D and will be […]
Velo3D and Launcher continue to partner on 3D printed rocket engine components
The partnership between Velo3D Inc. and Launcher is proving out the value of 3D printing for delivering these satellites to orbit cost-effectively and with destination-orbit flexibility. Launcher purchased a Velo3D metal additive manufacturing solution to print Inconel parts in April 2021 and has recently added a second one that prints Titanium. Following successful testing at […]
Vertex Manufacturing selects VELO3D to meet growing demand for 3D Printing production-ready metal parts
VELO3D Inc., a leader in advanced additive manufacturing (AM) for high-value metal parts, announced that Vertex Manufacturing, a Cincinnati-based business providing CNC machining and manufacturing services from development through production, has selected VELO3D to help meet growing demand for 3D-printed “impossible” metal parts. Vertex was born out of the desire of AM pioneers Greg Morris, […]
Wagner Machine Co takes delivery of VELO3D 3D Printing system
VELO3D Inc., a leader in additive manufacturing (AM) for high-value metal parts, announced the delivery of a state-of-the-art aluminum F357 metal AM solution to Wagner Machine Company, a second-generation, precision machine shop with a reputation for building the impossible. “When everyone else says it can’t be done, people come to us,” said Kurt Wagner, CEO, […]
VELO3D is going public
VELO3D, Inc., and JAWS Spitfire Acquisition Corporation, a special purpose acquisition company, announced they have entered into a definitive business combination agreement. The transaction is anticipated to strengthen VELO3D’s position as a trusted partner for companies seeking novel manufacturing solutions for complex design challenges. Upon completion of the transaction, which is expected to occur in […]
Metal 3D-printing system handles flight-critical applications
Primus Aerospace—a leading contract manufacturing partner to aerospace, defense & space OEMs—purchased a Ti6Al4V Sapphire metal additive manufacturing (AM) system from Velo3d. The 3D printer is dedicated to titanium material and will be used solely for aerospace & defense applications. Primus will use this printer to produce cube satellites, hypersonics and turbine engines. The Colorado-based […]
VELO3D selected for its 3D-Printed aftermarket part solutions for gas turbines in aviation and energy
VELO3D is pleased to announce that Chromalloy, a manufacturing and repair solutions provider for gas turbine engine manufacturers and operators worldwide, recently selected the VELO3D Sapphire system as their additive manufacturing (AM) solution to significantly impact the economics of future Maintenance, Repair & Operations (MRO) projects in Chromalloy’s aviation and energy markets. Chromalloy is installing […]
Additive manufacturing a key tool in the creation of a lightweight microturbine house with cooling channels
KW Micro Power designs and manufactures high power density Auxiliary Power Units (APUs) for commercial aviation and military applications. They are a small Florida-based manufacturer looking for new, cutting-edge solutions. Over the past five years, Enrique Enriquez, the president of KW Micro Power, has worked tirelessly to create a microturbine generator roughly the size of […]
Additive manufacturing produces complex metal parts for the Boom Supersonic XB-1
The unveiling of Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 supersonic demonstrator aircraft last fall at the company’s Denver hangar has brought the dream of a return to supersonic air travel closer to reality. While XB-1, as well as the company’s future Overture supersonic airliner, echo the shape of the earlier Concorde (see sidebar), XB-1 presented its creators with […]