Elementum 3D materials picked for moon landing

Here comes Aluminum 7050

Aluminum 7050 has been utilized in many industries, especially in the aerospace sector.  Similar to 2xxx and 6xxx series aluminums, 7xxx series aluminums are heat treated to develop their precipitate strengthened microstructure, thereby adding considerable strength.  The alloy is known for high strength, fatigue resistance and resistance to stress corrosion cracking (SCC).

Elementum 3D has recently completed a preliminary research project to design a composition and post-processing plan for additively manufactured Al7050.  The reactive RAM additions are locally activated by the laser energy during the build process to produce product phases that act as nucleants for the aluminum alloy during solidification.  These nucleants produce an equiaxed grain structure to reduce columnar grain growth and eliminate hot tearing.  As expected, the RAM additions solved the hot tearing and columnar grain problem. … READ MORE 

Why are metal AM powders critical to quality printed parts?

In this issue of Tech Talk Ben Rafferty, Elementum 3D materials engineer, will discuss powder selection, the first and perhaps most important step in the additive manufacturing (AM) process. He’ll be covering key attributes of quality metal AM powder including size, shape (morphology), flowability, tap density, and composition. These characteristics all contribute to achieve a high quality AM part.

Most people are not aware of metals three-dimensional printing and the extent that you can print complex high performance parts. When I started my career as a material engineer, I was only aware that printing metal was an emerging option; it wasn’t until I started working with Elementum 3D that I saw how important metal powders designed specifically for additive manufacturing (AM) are to the performance of printed metal parts. Additive manufacturing involves the addition of material to produce parts directly from a computer model, as opposed to a subtractive machining process that removes material to produce a part. Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) is an industrial AM process that produces complex near net shape parts with near full theoretical density. Properties often exceed cast parts and may approach or even exceed forged/wrought parts. … READ MORE

Winter Wonderland

The Elementum 3D team lives all around the great city of Denver, but during the cooler months we live next to a “Winter Wonderland.” The magnificent snowy peaks and enchanted towns of the Rocky Mountains is a magnet that endlessly pulls many Coloradoans out to play throughout the wintery months. 

Now, let’s be crystal clear, not every likes to play outside in the cold (sometimes freezing temperatures), but some of our employees are passionate about their favorite winter activities. Tony Manerbino, Materials Scientist, loves to fly high on his snowboard. Adam Polizzi, Materials Engineer, also likes to snowboard as well as climb mountains with his family. Jacob Nuechterlein, President/Founder, enjoys family time ice skating with his 3-year old daughter. Mountain-side bofires get Jared Rickaby, Operations Director, and his wife excited to hang out in the cold. Then there is Christina Haley, our adventurous project manager, she enjoys getting eaten by rarely seen Rocky Mountain snow monster. Fun stuff! We hope your winter will be filled with great fun, too!

Check out this link if you are planing to visit Colorado in the next few months. It gives you 8 ways to make your visit to Colorado this winter unforgettable.

Serial AM production — are you ready to switch on the green light?

Metal additive manufacturing (AM) has wowed the manufacturing world for over a decade and many have grand dreams on how AM will optimize part design, performance, cost and time to market. The industry is saying we are verge of serial 3D printing production, but are you ready? Does your part look like you want it to look like and consistantly perform the way you want it to perform—more importantly, have you determined what factors (i.e., materials and properties) need to be established to green light serial printing your first part? 

Contact us with your thoughts on this question and we will respond to you directly.

• Masten Space Systems explains how additive manufacturing will help NASA go back to the Moon
• Additive manufacturing is breaking through—sort of
• Additive Manufacturing is driving the future of the automotive industry
• Additive experts on materials and the industrialisation of 3D printing
• Rolls-Royce Advance3 engine to “Pioneer” aerospace with 3D Printing and advanced materials
• NASCAR star Brad Keselowski wants to 3D-print the future

Meet our team and learn more about how and why we are passionate about developing superior metal-based materials and parameters for additive manufacturing.

OPEN HOUSE VISITS
All are welcome to drop by our Erie, Colorado facility on the second Friday of any month from      4 – 6 pm.

TRADE SHOW VISITS

January 7 ADAPT Expo: Golden, CO

March 31-April 4 AMUG Conference: Chicago IL, Booth #TBD

April 8-11 35th Space Symposium: Colorado Springs CO, Booth 1011

May 21 – 23 RAPID: Detroit MI, Booth #TBD 

Momentum Newsletter

Aluminum 6061 is now available!

Elementum 3D is pleased to present AL6061-RAM2%, our newest 3D printable material. Elementum 3D’s novel reactive additive manufacturing (RAM) technology has enabled introduction of an aluminum alloy that achieves properties comparable to wrought 6061-T6 on existing laser powder bed fusion equipment. Key advantages of this material include incredible… Read more

New fatigue data proves aluminum MMC out performs high-temp engine alloy

Fatigue testing is critical to determine a material’s ability to withstand cyclic loading conditions over time. Elementum’s AL2024-RAM10% recently completed elevated temperature fatigue testing at 250°C with exceptional performance compared to other aluminum alloys available for AM and also compared to cast and wrought aluminum alloys.  At a stress level of 110 MPa, AL2024-RAM10% achieved excellent durability with 50,000,000 cycles. In fact, the 250°C fatigue behavior of Elementum 3D’s additively manufactured AL2024-RAM10% is significantly better than A319 cast aluminum that is often used for elevated temperature engine components. Demonstrating the excellent fatigue resistance of AL2024-RAM10% gives engineers the confidence to design for new material options.

Special thanks to AM Metals for providing fatigue testing results.

Elementum 3D is awarded NSF Phase II grant

We are thrilled to announce the award of $750,000 from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The award comes as an initiative for the NSF aimed at optimizing the use of additive manufacturing and nanotechnology. The grant will be used to accelerate the development and commercialization of a nickel superalloy metal matrix composite (superalloy-MMC) feedstock and parameter set for additive manufacturing. Our goal for developing superalloy-MMC is to fill the market need for an advanced 3D printed material suitable for… Read more (Link no longer available)

An EOS M400 is on its way to Erie

The recently purchased EOS M400-1 further demostrates our commitment to deliver advanced additive materials to customers interested in printing larger and more efficient components. Adding EOS’ percision M400-1 printer will expand our ability to offer our groundbreaking products and parameters to benefit the recent surge of customers looking to take full advantages of large format metal printers.

Fun facts about our hometown – Erie, CO USA

• Founded in 1870, 6 years before Colorado achieved statehood.
• Located about 20 minutes north of Denver
  2017 population 25,000
• Elementum 3D was established in Erie in October 2014
• The town is almost 20 sq miles incorporated (48 sq miles planning area) and boasts 134 acres of parks. Over 10% parks!!
• Erie history timeline

Understanding Metal Matrix Composites

Throughout history, materials have defined our technology and fueled creative thinking to solve our problems and advance our capabilities. Today, engineering materials are often classified into categories, with the four major groups comprising metals, polymers, ceramics, and composites. Metal based composite materials, known as metal matrix composites (MMCs), are one of the major innovations in materials science and engineering since the late 19th century.

Composites are materials composed of at least two distinct constituent phases. Metal matrix composites have a continuous metal matrix phase and one or more additional phases such as ceramic reinforcements. The combination of different materials can produce a unique and advantageous set of properties with the freedom to… Read more

How would access to new high-performance AM metal-based materials affect your business?

Limited availability of metal-based materials in additive manufacturing (AM) is the main factor for our existence. We believe engineers and manufacturers deserve to have the freedom to choose a specific high-performance material in AM to meet the rise in customers demand for superior products. Our goal is to provide customers with AM materials and properties they need, not just what’s available.

Contact us with your thoughts on this question and we will respond to you directly

• Porsche and Bugatti turn to 3D printing for complex or rare parts
• New Stratasys metal 3D printer, materials announced
• Metal 3D printing makes the cut in MIT Tech Review’s top ten tech list
• Atlas 3D’s Sunata™ Software Turns 3D Metal Printing Designs Into Successful Builds…Every Time!

Meet our team and learn more about how and why we are passionate about developing superior metal-based materials and parameters for additive manufacturing.

OPEN HOUSE VISITS
All are welcome to drop by our Erie, Colorado facility on the second Friday of any month from      4 – 6 pm.

TRADE SHOW VISITS
April 23-26 Rapid + TCT: Fort Worth, TX, Booth #735
September 13- 16 IMTS 2018: Chicago IL, Booth #432403
October 9- 11 Aluminium 2018: Dusseldorf, Germany, Booth #10/C07
November 13- 16 FormNext 2018: Frankfurt, Germany, Booth #TBD

Momentum Newsletter