Atomic Industries boosts tool and die manufacturing with Velo3D’s Sapphire
November 30, 2023
Velo3D, Inc, headquartered in Campbell, California, USA, has reported that Atomic Industries, a creator of artificial intelligence-powered manufacturing solutions, has purchased a Sapphire metal Additive Manufacturing machine to provide its customers with tooling and dies.
The Sapphire is calibrated to produce parts in M300 tool steel, an ultra-low carbon alloy with high-strength and hardness properties derived from intermetallic compounds, rather than carbon content. Atomic’s Sapphire will operate from a newly renovated facility in Detroit, Michigan, USA, helping produce tooling for aerospace, automotive, and energy customers.
Atomic is the first company to qualify M300 tool steel for injection moulding tooling with the Sapphire AM machine.
“Our new Sapphire printer will be instrumental in helping Atomic Industries tackle the tooling market by qualifying M300 tooling steel with our customers and showing the full capabilities of 3D printed tooling,” stated Aaron Slodov, Atomic Industries’ CEO and co-founder. “We’re excited to go hands-on and prove the robustness of the Sapphire platform with conformal-cooling inserts and other challenging features that will empower our customers. This strategic investment aligns perfectly with our commitment to innovation and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in manufacturing.”
M300 tool steel, with its combination of strength, toughness, and resistance to wear, has long been a staple in die-casting applications and tooling. Unlocking the ability to additively manufacture in this alloy will give customers better-performing tooling inserts that minimise downtime on production lines by extending the lifecycle of tooling inserts.
“Atomic Industries’ ground-up approach to advanced manufacturing allows them to implement revolutionary technologies without the baggage of legacy solutions, and we’re thrilled to partner with them on their journey to redefine manufacturing possibilities,” added Benny Buller, Velo3D founder and CEO. “It’s not often that we get to work with a customer who is essentially starting from a blank slate, and we feel confident that with their new Sapphire metal 3D printer, and its accompanying software, they will be able to exceed the demands of their customers and create a new framework for contract manufacturing.”
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