Precision Additive, a U.S.-based producer of steel additive manufacturing methods, has launched its first laser powder mattress fusion machine, the PA-300. The system is meant to provide qualification-ready steel parts for protection, aerospace, vitality, and medical functions that require repeatability, traceability, and home manufacturing.
The PA-300 is constructed round a proprietary course of referred to as Scanning Tremendous Laser Soften (SSLM), developed by Precision Additive to deal with limitations encountered in typical laser powder mattress fusion workflows. In keeping with the corporate, this laser know-how permits construct speeds of as much as ten occasions sooner than normal LPBF methods. Synthetic intelligence is built-in into the machine structure to repeatedly monitor builds and proper deviations throughout fabrication. Precision Additive states that these changes happen in actual time through the printing course of, and describe it as “the quickest printer ever made utilizing its proprietary SSLM laser know-how and constructed with intelligence powered by AI structure.”
Course of management and qualification are managed by Precision Additive Qualification (PAQ), a data-driven framework that connects construct knowledge with qualification necessities. The corporate stories that PAQ helps constant, repeatable outcomes throughout builds. This framework underpins Precision Additive’s deal with magnesium alloys, a category of light-weight however extremely reactive supplies that has traditionally confirmed troublesome to fabricate utilizing additive manufacturing applied sciences.
Magnesium has lengthy been utilized in aerospace and protection methods attributable to its low density and vibration-dampening properties, however industrial use declined as processing experience and home capability diminished. In a latest interview, Precision Additive chief govt Bala Anand Jeldi mentioned magnesium was traditionally utilized in navy rotorcraft and house methods however grew to become constrained by security issues and the lack of certified foundries. Chief know-how officer Daniel Braley, previously a senior technical fellow at Boeing, famous that solely a restricted variety of U.S. services stay able to dealing with aerospace-grade magnesium, creating provide bottlenecks for protection applications.
Along with magnesium, the PA Sequence is configured to course of different supplies that current challenges for laser powder mattress fusion methods, together with tungsten and copper. Precision Additive identifies magnesium functionality as a technical differentiator of the platform, significantly for functions the place weight, thermal conduct, and mechanical efficiency constrain materials choice.
“As protection applications face fragile provide chains and growing reliance on overseas sources for high-complexity components, home manufacturing functionality has turn into important to readiness,” mentioned Jon Haase, Chief Technique Officer and President of Authorities Enterprise at Precision Additive. “The PA machines are designed to revive safe U.S.-based manufacturing. These machines are important to US protection and exceed worldwide printers.”
Anand additionally described the PA-300 as a part of a shift towards additive manufacturing methods designed for manufacturing accountability somewhat than experimental use. “Additive manufacturing is coming into a brand new period outlined by intelligence, reliability, and accountability,” Jeldi mentioned. “Precision Additive was created to make sure superior manufacturing methods usually are not solely revolutionary, however reliable sufficient to help probably the most demanding functions.”
Synthetic intelligence capabilities inside the PA-300 are supported by a collaboration with NVIDIA. AI framework applies physics-based, AI-driven manufacturing applied sciences to allow real-time course of optimization, predictive high quality assurance, and scalable qualification workflows.
Precision Additive is headquartered in Noblesville, Indiana, and operates as each an unique gear producer and a provider of on-demand manufacturing components. Pricing, supply timelines, and detailed system specs weren’t disclosed.
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Featured picture exhibits PA-300 steel 3D printer. Picture by way of Precision Additive.
