Velo3D, a metal additive manufacturing technology company for mission-critical parts, announced Visser Precision, a contract manufacturer serving major industries from the racetrack to outer space, has purchased and received two Sapphire printers to expand its 3D-printing capabilities for its aerospace customers. One of the printers delivered is the first Sapphire printer calibrated for Haynes 214 (UNS N07214), a nickel-based superalloy that is now available as a powder option for all Velo3D customers. The other Sapphire printer is calibrated for Inconel 718, which is commonly used in many aerospace and industrial applications for its high strength and corrosion resistance.
Visser Precision has an extensive background in both polymer and metal 3D printing. The company provides its customers in aerospace, defense, automotive, and industrial tooling with finished parts that are ready to use in their mission-critical applications. Visser Precision purchased its Sapphire printers after a mutual aerospace customer sought to leverage Velo3D’s additive manufacturing technology for components in its rocket engines.
As an ITAR-registered contract manufacturer, Visser Precision has extensive experience working with some of the most advanced companies in aerospace and defense, two of the industries that have extensively adopted Velo3D’s technology. The company’s full suite of services also includes heat treatment, precision machining, and wire EDM. At its Denver facility, Visser Precision also offers its customers functional testing and precision inspection in a climate-controlled environment that is AS9100:D and ISO 9001:2015 certified.
Velo3D’s contract manufacturing network allows companies to additively manufacturer parts without having the capital expenditure of a printer. It also gives customers the flexibility to source parts from a variety of suppliers through a distributed supply chain. This is made possible by Velo3D’s fully integrated solution, which includes its Flow print preparation software, Assure quality assurance software, and Intelligent Fusion manufacturing process.
Haynes 214 was developed by Haynes International, which specializes in developing new alloys for use in high-temperature environments. The alloy stands apart from other nickel-based alloys by providing enhanced oxidation resistance. Inconel 718 is one of the most common nickel-based alloys and is used in environments that require superb tensile strength under extreme pressure and heat. Both alloys are extensively used in additively manufacturing parts for aerospace applications, given they are difficult to machine through conventional methods due to their extreme hardness.