Addman to boost aerospace production with two Velo3D Sapphire XC machines
March 31, 2023
Addman Engineering, headquartered in Bonita Springs, Florida, USA, has purchased two Sapphire XC Additive Manufacturing machines from Velo3D, Campbell, California. The company provides its customers with finished, ready-to-use parts in metal and polymers. It also offers services such as injection moulding, CMM and laser scanning, as well as metallurgy and build parameter development.
The Sapphire XC machines will be installed at Addman’s Castheon facility, expanding its existing fleet of Sapphire machines to meet the demands of its customers in space, aviation, energy, and defense. The new machines will also enable the company to lower Additive Manufacturing costs by up to 75% and increase production size from the original Sapphire by 500%.
“Velo3D’s Additive Manufacturing technology allows our customers to produce their most complex, highest-performing designs in the highest-quality prints,” stated Mark Sabertin, CTO, Addman Engineering. “With these new Sapphire XC printers, we’ll be able to provide our customers with scalable, high-volume production capabilities and larger prints. This will help us keep our competitive advantage and ensure our customers have access to the latest Additive Manufacturing technology.”
Addman’s new Sapphire XC machines are calibrated to additively manufacture in GRCop-42 and Inconel 718 alloys. GRCop-42 is a copper-based alloy that was developed by NASA for use in regeneratively cooled rocket engines and other applications that require rapid heat transfer. The company’s new GRCop-42 Sapphire XC machine is its first in this alloy; the company currently operates original Sapphire machines that utilise Inconel 718, a high-strength nickel-based superalloy that provides oxidation and corrosion resistance at high temperatures. By adding a Sapphire XC in the same alloy, the contract manufacturer will be able to help its customers scale up production of parts without requalification or updated designs.
“Addman is one of our top contract manufacturers for aerospace applications and its purchase of these two Sapphire XC printers will help it service its customers in new ways that empower their businesses,” added Dr Zachary Murphree, VP – Global Sales and Business Development, Velo3D.“The great thing about the Sapphire XC is it uses the same technology as the original Sapphire so customers can count on the same repeatable, predictable outcomes they’re used to. For the companies that have received our first Sapphire XCs, it has been transformational to their businesses and we expect to hear the same from Addman and its OEM customers.”
The Sapphire XC is designed for volume production to help customers scale their businesses. The machine made its public debut at the beginning of 2021 and has reputedly become just as successful as its predecessor, the original Sapphire machine.