VELO3D, an innovator in digital manufacturing, announced the expansion of its systems portfolio to include Sapphire XC, an “Extra Capacity” large-format printer that will increase production throughput by 5X and reduce cost-per-part by up to 75%, when compared to the existing Sapphire system.
The company also announced plans to roll-out Sapphire Gen 2, which will be a software and hardware upgrade to the current system. Users can expect an improvement of anywhere between 10-50% in productivity and part-cost metrics when compared to the current Sapphire system. The Sapphire Gen 2 upgrade will be available to retrofit on all installed systems starting in Q2 2021.
The Sapphire product family now includes Sapphire Gen 2, the 1-meter tall Sapphire 1MZ and Sapphire XC—all using the laser powder-bed fusion (LPBF) process with patented capabilities to print without consideration of support structures. Sapphire systems specifically address the aerospace, power generation, and energy markets’ unmet needs for quality-assured manufacturing of uncompromised geometries.
Sapphire XC Features
● Larger build volume: Build volume 600 mm x 550 mm (compared to 315 mm x 400 mm in Sapphire)
● Higher productivity for production: 8 lasers x 1,000 W each (compared to 2 lasers x 1,000 W in Sapphire)
● Integrated manufacturing process: Fully integrated with Flow pre-print software and Assure quality control software
● Consistent architecture: Uses the same optical-train design, recoater technology, gas-flow technology, and metrology as the current Sapphire. Users can also expect similar material properties as Sapphire
● Qualified material alloys: Compatible alloys include Aluminum F357, Titanium 6AI-4V, INCONEL 718 and HASTELLOY X
Delivery of Sapphire XC will begin in Q4 2021. Early pre-order of Sapphire XC secures a price and an early manufacturing slot for the system. Existing orders of Sapphire XC will consume all available manufacturing slots for Q4 ’21 and most of Q1 ’22.
VELO3D
www.velo3d.com
Filed Under: Make Parts Fast