January 2022
A6061-RAM2 and GRCop-42 processes expanded to new AM systems
A6061-RAM2 printing material parameters are being developed for 3D Systems’ DMP Flex 350 platform. Their Application Innovation Group is supporting customers like NASA Goddard Space Flight Center with parts like this generatively designed bracket printed from A6061-RAM2, known for improved stiffness, print speed, and as-built surface finish compared to AlSi10Mg.
The bracket is intended to support the telescope of a balloon-borne platform called Exoplanet Climate Infrared TElescope (EXCITE), studying exoplanets from Earth’s upper atmosphere.
Our GRCop-42 printing process is currently in development for EOS M400-4 printers. Elementum 3D is already working with NASA Marshall Space Flight Center on a Phase III SBIR contract to develop a large format additive manufacturing process for GRCop-42. The scope of the project includes process development on EOS M400-1 printers to optimize print quality and speed, property characterization, and delivery of rocket engine components.
The introduction of new AM capabilities requires both alloy and process development and Elementum 3D is actively working with the AM community to provide printing processes that deliver high quality parts with highly reliable production.
On January 12, 2022, Elementum 3D announced the company has raised $10.2 million in a Series B funding round via the filing of a Form D with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The funding round is expected to blossom to $22 million in the coming weeks.
Elementum 3D is using its new equity financing to streamline operations, introduce new materials, and expand vertically. The funding will further solidify the company’s lead in the development and commercialization of high-performance advanced metals, alloys, composites, and other application specific materials in the additive manufacturing industry.
“We’ve been basically building data with these customers, where they’ve been basically testing it and trying it and seeing if it works,” Elementum founder and president Jacob Nuechterlein told BizWest. “We’ve had a number of customers who are now moving to production-scale projects. They’re moving from the R&D phase now to a production phase.”
“We’re the ones who are providing really the only aerospace-grade aluminum that’s available,” he added.
Elementum founder and president Dr. Jacob Nuechterlein shares his thoughts on materials and expansion in metal AM
Dr. Jacob Nuechterlein, Elementum 3D’s president and founder, was recently interviewed for an article by 3Dnatives, the largest international online media platform on 3D printing and its applications.
The article asks Jacob to introduce himself, his motivation to start Elementum 3D, and talk about RAM technology, the needs and barrier in the metal AM community, and what he expects AM will look like in 5 years.
Staff Update
NOVEBER 2021 NEW HIRES
Dr. Chloe Johnson – Materials Scientist
Dr. Hu Chun Yi – Materials Scientist
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Printability of nickel-based Alloy 230 solved
Through a Navy Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase I project, Elementum 3D with Colorado School of Mines Assistant Professor Dr. Jonah Klemm-Toole and Special Aerospace Services have developed an experimentally validated integrated computational materials engineering (ICME) framework to explain and solve printability issues including microcracking in nickel superalloys. The Phase I validation work demonstrated LPBF printing of a custom Alloy 230 with an improved crack-free microstructure and superior tensile properties compared to both the printed and wrought form unmodified alloy.
252.235-7010 ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF SUPPORT AND DISCLAIMER
This material is based upon work supported by the Office of Naval Research under Contract No. N68335-21-C-0429. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Office of Naval Research
AM materials breakthrough
Elementum 3D and partner Altius Space Machines have achieved exciting results in a NASA Phase I Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) project. The team developed and demonstrated laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) additive manufacturing (AM) of iron cobalt alloy for soft magnetic applications including large diameter Hall effect thrusters. Traditionally produced soft magnetic alloys either don’t have the strength or are not available in the large form factors needed for large structures. The printed results showed improved mechanical properties compared to the wrought alloy combined with breakthrough magnetic properties compared to previous LPBF research efforts. These results open the door for AM production of Hall effect thrusters as well as soft magnetic components for commercial space and terrestrial applications.
New corporate website is live!
We are pleased to announce the arrival of our new Elementum 3D website (www.elementum3d.com).
You’re invited to visit the re-designed site to experience the ease of finding the information that is most important to you.
