Velo3D launches Flow Developer to enhance control in Additive Manufacturing
February 29, 2024
Velo3D, Inc., headquartered in Campbell, California, USA, has announced the release of Developer, a new offering made available in the company’s Flow build preparation software that enables full transparency and control of the parameters used in the Additive Manufacturing process.
Developer is available for users of Flow 7.0, the latest version of Velo3D’s build preparation software that turns traditional design files into build files. Developer grants editor-level access to build parameters, giving companies maximum flexibility and control when working with their Velo3D Additive Manufacturing solution. With this access, users can import the proven parameters that they have developed, optimise default parameters for specific application needs, and develop parameter sets supporting new material development for novel solutions and specific applications. Once a part that was produced using Developer has been qualified, users can scale production by leveraging the control, quality, and repeatability of Velo3D’s Additive Manufacturing solution.
“It can be a challenge to produce repeatable results across different metal 3D printers — even when they’re the same model of printer — however, Velo3D’s solution can consistently produce parts within spec across any of its printers, which provides huge benefits for companies looking to scale production of their parts,” said Thomas Pomorski, Additive Manufacturing Manager at Ursa Major. “When our team first tested Flow Developer, we transferred parameters we developed on a non-Velo system, hoping we could easily produce the same part on Velo3D’s system and then take advantage of the scalability it provides.
“On our first try, we imported a part with highly complex, sensitive features and achieved incredible results that were within specification. Since then, we’ve accomplished the same process with other parts and in some cases, have been able to reduce print time by nearly 50% without sacrificing accuracy or quality,” he concluded.
Prior to its general release, Developer was made available to select customers for feedback, including Ursa Major, a privately funded company developing rocket propulsion technology. During this phase, engineers have been able to directly transfer their custom parameters into their Velo3D solutions. The Developer software is reported to have enabled early-access customers to easily increase their production of parts as their applications progressed from development to production.
“Velo3D’s mission has always been to provide an Additive Manufacturing solution that delivers repeatability from machine-to-machine, which is still a big shortcoming with legacy metal 3D printers,” stated Brad Kreger, CEO of Velo3D. “Previously, we did this by providing pre-defined parameters within the system, which left customers wanting to know what’s inside our ‘black box’ and looking for more flexibility. When you combine Flow Developer with our ability to produce identical parts using the same print file, we strike the perfect balance between usability, repeatability, and flexibility. This has allowed these early access customers to think outside the box of conventional Additive Manufacturing to progress beyond their current limitations and realise true production scalability for their parts.”
Flow is intended to act as a key part of Velo3D’s integrated approach to Additive Manufacturing which works to enable machine-to-machine consistency. In addition to Flow and the Sapphire family of AM machines, the company’s solutions also includes Assure quality assurance software, which monitors a build layer-by-layer to ensure consistent geometric accuracy, surface finish, and material properties throughout a finished part.
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