3D-Printing Milestone: Puris 3D Prints Largest Titanium Part

January 20, 2016 | By Business Wire News

BRUCETON MILLS, W. Va.

Puris, LLC (www.purisllc.com) announced today that it recently achieved a major 3D-printing milestone: Puris successfully produced the largest, complex, 3D-printed titanium part for commercial use. The part was printed using ExOne^® [NASDAQ: XONE] binder-jetting technology and was processed to 100 percent density. Measuring an estimated 19” x 19” x 11” inches with a cross-section thickness of 0.375-inch, the part weighs approximately 31 lb.

“There is a lot of activity in this arena and larger parts have been printed, but we believe this is the largest complex titanium part to be printed to date,” Puris’ CEO Craig Kirsch said. “The milestone was achieved by the combination of our team’s deep metallurgical and powder-production expertise and ExOne binder-jetting technology. It is significant that the part was processed to full density and printed safely using affordable, available powder.”

The part was produced for an aerospace customer on ExOne M-Print™ 3D printer at Puris’ Bruceton Mills plant under the direction of the Puris metallurgy team. The use of binder-jetting technology allowed Puris to print the part at room temperature, eliminating residual stress buildup, as well as the chemical-property and microstructure changes that occur in other metal 3D-printing technologies; these are critical aspects to commercial use of 3D-printed parts, according to Kirsch.

“We are actively working on a number of development programs with other customers interested in bringing large, 3D-printed parts into the additive manufacturing mainstream. Size is currently constrained only by the printer box itself, which presents advancement opportunities for ExOne to develop larger direct-printing machines,” Kirsch added. The current ExOne M-Print print box is 32” x 20” x 16”.

Puris has printed large parts using Inconel alloy powder as well, and is able to print with other high-performance alloys.

About Puris, LLC

Puris, LLC is among the world’s leading producers of titanium powder for additive manufacturing. The Puris team includes leaders in powder metallurgy and pioneers in spherical titanium powder gas atomization. The company’s innovative technology and processes promote the safe use of high-quality powder; available and affordable metal powder for aerospace, automotive, healthcare and oil and gas industries. Learn more at www.purisllc.com and follow us on Twitter (@PurisLLC) and Linked In.

About ExOne^®

ExOne is a global provider of 3D printing machines and 3D printed and other products, materials and services to industrial customers. ExOne’s business primarily consists of manufacturing and selling 3D printing machines and printing products to specification for its customers using its in-house 3D printing machines. ExOne offers pre-production collaboration and printed products for customers through its nine PSCs, which are located in the United States, Germany, Italy, Sweden and Japan. ExOne builds 3D printing machines at its facilities in the United States and Germany. ExOne also supplies the associated materials, including consumables and replacement parts, and other services, including training and technical support, necessary for purchasers of its machines to print products. More information can be found at www.exone.com.