Cooksongold and 3D Lab target precious metal powder production for AM with new atomisation system
November 24, 2019
Cooksongold and 3D Lab will utilise the new AtoNobile powder atomiser for precious metal powders as part of their collaboration (Courtesy 3D Lab sp. z.o.o.)
Cooksongold (Cookson Precious Metals Ltd.), headquartered in Birmingham, UK, and part of the Heimerle + Meule Group, has reported that it will be collaborating with 3D Lab sp. z.o.o., based in Warsaw, Poland, to drive the development of precious metal powders and other non-reactive metals.
As part of the collaboration, the companies will utilise a specially adapted machine called the AtoNoble, a compact powder atomisation system that will reportedly help to revolutionise powder and parameter development. The machine uses a patented process to melt non-reactive precious metals into powder form.
According to 3D Lab, the AtoNoble is the first of its kind to be specially adapted for precious metal powders including gold, silver and platinum and was adapted from the AtoOne – the first machine designed for powder atomisation by 3D Lab. The company explains that the AtoNoble has been designed to be compact, measuring approximately 1,995 mm high x 813 mm wide x 1,138 mm deep, requiring less investment into infrastructure. It’s also able to use smaller quantities of raw material.
The companies believe that the AtoNoble will be vital in production and development in industries such as jewellery, healthcare, electronics, aerospace and more that require the high densities of precious metal.
Martin Bach, Managing Director of Cooksongold stated, “We are excited to announce this partnership with 3D Lab sp. z.o.o. We are confident that this revolutionary technology will have a major impact within the whole precious metal Additive Manufacturing market. Powder quality and costs are key drivers in this field and this technology will offer considerable advantages.”
Jakub Rozpendowski, Business Executive of 3D Lab commented, “We’re pleased to start our collaboration with Cooksongold in the production of precious metal powders. Their expert knowledge combined with our novel ultrasonic atomisation technology has a great potential to make ATO Noble an important solution for new metal material development by reducing the time to market for new, innovative products.”
