Global Advanced Metals to manufacture tantalum powders for AM & MIM

News
May 7, 2018

May 7, 2018

Global Advanced Metals Pty Ltd (GAM), a producer of tantalum products, has commissioned a Tekna TEKSPHERO plasma spheroidisation system for installation at its facility in Boyertown, Pennsylvania, USA. The equipment is part of a new process development facility for the manufacture of spherical tantalum and other refractory metal powders for Additive Manufacturing and Metal Injection Moulding.

The TEKSPHERO equipment produces spherical powders from a variety of tantalum feed materials. Particle sizes range from 10–100 µm, in narrow or broad particle size distributions. Standard oxygen content is in the range of 600–1000 ppm, but low oxygen (< 250 ppm) powders remain an option.

Andrew O’Donovan, Chief Executive Officer, Global Advanced Metals, stated, “Our new process development facility enables us to create spherical tantalum powders that can be used for the 3D printing of prototypes and commercial parts. The ability to rapidly prototype and produce complex tantalum parts via AM offers designers new materials choices for applications in military, aerospace, medical and other demanding industries.”

GAM is said to be the world’s only fully integrated tantalum supplier and has exclusive rights to the world’s largest industrial resources of tantalum ore, located in Western Australia. The company produces tantalum powders and other metallurgical products at its Pennsylvania, USA, and Aizu, Japan, plants for a range of industries.

The company stated that it has developed relationships with experts in the field of laser and electron beam Additive Manufacturing to create prototype and commercial parts using spherical tantalum powders, and that it has been able to demonstrate the successful AM of tantalum parts with unique physical properties and complex geometries, including open cellular structures.

www.globaladvancedmetals.com

News
May 7, 2018

In the latest issue of Metal AM magazine

Download PDF
 

Extensive AM industry news coverage, as well as the following exclusive deep-dive articles:

  • Metal AM in the aerospace sector: from early successes to the transformation of an industry
  • Slowly but surely: Industrialising metal Additive Manufacturing the Norwegian way
  • Hot Isostatic Pressing and AM: How to improve product quality and productivity for critical applications
  • The convergence of Additive Manufacturing and Artificial Intelligence: Envisioning a future that is closer than you think
  • ADAXIS: On a mission to reduce the layers of complexity in robotic Additive Manufacturing
  • Exploiting your metal Additive Manufacturing data assets: Faster industrialisation and new revenue streams

The world of metal AM to your inbox

Don't miss any new issue of Metal AM magazine, and get the latest industry news. Sign up to our twice weekly newsletter.

Sign up

Discover our magazine archive…

The free to access Metal Additive Manufacturing magazine archive offers unparalleled insight into the world of metal Additive Manufacturing from a commercial and technological perspective through:

  • Reports on visits to leading metal AM part manufacturers and industry suppliers
  • Articles on technology and application trends
  • Information on materials developments
  • Reviews of key technical presentations from the international conference circuit
  • International industry news

All past issues are available to download as free PDFs or view in your browser.

Browse the archive

Looking for AM machines, metal powders or part manufacturing services?

Discover suppliers of these and more in our comprehensive advertisers’ index and buyer’s guide, available in the back of Metal AM magazine.

  • AM machines
  • Process monitoring & calibration
  • Heat treatment & sintering
  • HIP systems & services
  • Pre- & post-processing technology
  • Powders, powder production and analysis
  • Part manufacturers
  • Consulting, training & market data
View online
Share via
Copy link
Powered by Social Snap