Equispheres Develops Non-Explosible Aluminum Feedstock
Canadian 3D printing powder developer Equispheres Inc. has developed a non-explosible aluminum alloy feedstock for additive manufacturing that reduces the hazards associated with day-to-day handling of materials for 3D printing. Identified as NExP-1, the new material is specifically designed for production printing of aluminum parts. It maintains the ability to produce high-quality prints at high throughput rates, but unlike other metal powders for AM, it is dust-free and characterized as non-explosible per ASTM E1226, Standard Test Method for Explosibility of Dust Clouds. The material is also non-combustible, per the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, Part 3, Subsection 33.2.1. for flammable solids.
As metal 3D printer users will no doubt be aware, alloys like titanium and aluminum need to be handled carefully during heat induction bending, as they can combust extremely quickly when exposed to air in an enclosed space. This hazard is particularly pressing in 3D printing considering the dust often created during processing, hence powder management has become a critical (but sometimes laborious) part of users’ workflows. To help put such manufacturers at ease about the risks associated with handling aluminum, Equispheres has launched an innovative new non-explosible AlSi10Mg material.
“We have achieved these key safety properties without altering the quality of our material nor the chemical composition. In printing, this material performs just as well as our other aluminum powders, but it has the added benefit of being non-explosible and non-combustible,” says Evan Butler-Jones, Vice-President – Product & Strategy for Equispheres. Because this new, non-explosible aluminum material significantly reduces the hazards of day-to-day handling without sacrificing the quality of the printed part, it could reduce the barriers to industrialization of 3D printing and make the process more easily integrated into manufacturing facilities of heavy steel fabrication companies.
“It would almost be inaccurate to even call this a powder,” Butler-Jones continues. “It is almost totally free of dust; it flows like water and it is easy to clean off of equipment surfaces. It is a completely unique printing media for production additive manufacturing.” The material is currently available in AlSi10Mg. Equispheres has developed recommended parameters for printing the new material, targeting several end-use applications. “We are applying our technology to empower innovation in additive manufacturing. We anticipate this new safer aluminum material will be embraced by companies using AM in a production setting,” says Kevin Nicholds, CEO of Equispheres. “This new breakthrough is a result of our ongoing efforts to make 3D printing and rapid prototyping more accessible and competitive with other manufacturing methods.”
With a core team of metallurgists actively engaged in R&D, Equispheres continues to develop processes and products to advance the technology of additive manufacturing. The company’s Performance and Precision lines of aluminum powder demonstrate marked improvement in print speed and part quality, resulting in lower per-part costs. NExP-1, an addition to Equispheres’ Production product line relies on a technological breakthrough to address the handling properties of AM powders.