Ultra Fine Specialty Products announces line of metal powders specifically for Additive Manufacturing
November 9, 2023
Ultra Fine Specialty Products, LLC, an affiliate of Novamet Specialty Products Corporation based in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, USA, has announced a new line of metal powders developed specifically for Additive Manufacturing.
With vacuum melt and inert gas atomisation at its purpose-built facility, Ultra Fine has been producing fine, highly spherical metal powders since 1990. These have been widely used by the largest and most successful Metal Injection Moulding (MIM) companies in the world.
“We are excited to announce that we are now introducing a new line of metal powder products based on our research and development of powders specifically for AM,” stated Jeffrey Peterson, president and CEO of Ultra Fine and Novamet Specialty Products.
“We have been working with a number of customers for the past few years, optimising a number of powders specifically for improving the quality and speed of printing for our AM customers, particularly in Binder Jet and PBF-LB [Laser Beam Powder Bed Fusion], but also for CSAM [Cold Spray Additive Manufacturing], PBF-EB [Electron Beam Powder Bed Fusion] and DED [Directed Energy Deposition] technologies.”
Dr John Johnson, PhD, COO and CTO of Ultra Fine, added, “These products work because of our unique atomisation process and our ability to put the optimal cuts of powder into a blend for an application.”
As well as its atomisation process, Ultra Fine also has the ability to offer smaller (down to 125 kg) or larger (over 1,500 kg) heats to provide small batches for customers testing new materials or for those using high-value, low-volume alloys. These specific powders are said to show increased flowability and density, and have been reported by numerous customers to offer superior additive manufacturability and final product performance.
“We can offer these grades, and even further refine the powder through additional proprietary processes, and still keep the powder at prices far below what others offer for similar or lower performing powders,” added Peterson.
Ultra Fine offers a wide range of alloys based on iron, nickel, cobalt and copper. The company is currently exhibiting at Formnext 2023 at Hall 11.0, E38.
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