Puris LLC, Bruceton Mills, W.Va., announces that it recently achieved a major 3D-printing milestone by producing a 31-pound complex titanium aerospace part for commercial use to 100% density. Measuring an estimated 19 x 19 x 11 inches with a cross-section thickness of 0.375-inch, the part was printed using ExOne binder-jetting technology at room temperature.
It was produced for an aerospace customer on an ExOne M-Print 3D printer at the Puris Bruceton Mills plant under the direction of the Puris metallurgy team. Binder-jetting technology allowed printing the part at room temperature, eliminating residual stress buildup that could result from high-temperature technologies. It also prevented the chemical-property and microstructure changes that develop in other metal 3D-printing technologies.
“There is a lot of activity in this arena and larger parts have been printed, but we believe this is the largest complex titanium part to be printed to date,” Puris CEO Craig Kirsch said. “The milestone was achieved by the combination of our team’s deep metallurgical and powder-production expertise and ExOne binder-jetting technology. It was processed to full density and printed safely using affordable, available powder.”
“We are actively working on a number of development programs with other customers interested in bringing large, 3D-printed parts into the additive manufacturing mainstream. Size is currently constrained only by the printer box itself, which presents advancement opportunities for ExOne to develop larger direct-printing machines,” Mr. Kirsch added. The current ExOne M-Print print box is 32 x 20 x 16 inches.
Puris has printed large parts using Inconel alloy powder as well, and is able to print with other high-performance alloys.
