Aconity3D, Equispheres Collaborate to Increase Metal 3D Printing Speeds

Aconity3D and Equispheres are reporting their recent collaboration has resulted in breakthrough speeds for aluminum part production using the Aconity3D 1-kW Midi system and Equispheres’ aluminum powder in metal additive manufacturing (AM). Aconity3D is known for manufacturing custom, precise metal AM printers, while Equispheres produces specialized powders with unique attributes specifically designed for AM.

Recently, Aconity3D has been testing Equispheres aluminum powder to produce a part of the AconityScan — a key component of the Aconity3D line of printers — with the objective to produce the part more quickly and at a lower cost than is currently achievable with standard powder. According to the companies, the results achieved to date have demonstrated the part can be produced in approximately 60% less time (53 hours reduced to 17.5 hours) with no impact on mechanical properties.

According to Yves Hagedorn, Aconity3D managing director, this dramatic reduction in production time reduces the cost to produce the part by greater than 50%. More importantly, it enables Aconity3D to produce its printers more quickly and meet the growing demand for its systems.

The highly spherical, uniform Equispheres powder is said to be able to take advantage of the precision and configurability of the Aconity3D system. “Most importantly, the powder can absorb the energy from the powerful 1 kW laser without disturbing the stability of the melt pool,” says Evan Butler Jones, director of applications engineering at Equispheres. “This is not attainable with standard aluminum powders.”

Aconity3D plans to conduct additional testing with Equispheres powder to further optimize its process and reduce costs. In addition to using the powder for its internal part production needs, Equispheres and Aconity3D are finalizing an agreement to enable Aconity3D to provide Equispheres powder directly to Aconity3D customers as a starter kit.