VRC introduces Dragonfly Cold Spray Additive Manufacturing for in-field repairs
July 17, 2024
VRC Metal Systems, Box Elder, South Dakota, USA, has introduced its Dragonfly Cold Spray System, an Additive Manufacturing solution designed for in-field repairs across industries such as maritime repairs, aeronautical maintenance, repair and overhaul, and the energy sector.
The Dragonfly is intended to serve as a functionally equivalent system to VRC’s stationary options like the Raptor and Gen IV, but comprised of four main modular components: the electrical assembly, gas train, powder feeder, and heating unit. The heaviest module weighs 42.6 kg.
The Dragonfly includes VRC’s PF2 Powder Feeder, which can hold up to 1 litre of powder. This feeder is a staple in many of VRC’s Cold Spray Additive Manufacturing machines and offers flexibility, allowing ample space for manoeuvring the spray nozzle. The system also features VRC’s 21 kW heater, which is capable of reaching temperatures up to 800°C.
This VRC single-gas machine is capable of handling nitrogen, helium, or compressed air, in an effort to enhance its versatility as a Cold Spray Additive Manufacturing system.
The Dragonfly is also designed to seamlessly integrate with VRC’s Vark Portable Dust Collector. This dust collector circulates air at a rate of 1000 CFM and is compliant with NFPA44 code for collecting metal dust. Its HEPA after-filter enables effective recirculation, making it suitable for use within enclosed building spaces.
The VRC Portable Spray enclosure glove box is equipped with a down-draft table that seamlessly integrates with the VARK dust collector and the Dragonfly Cold Spray Additive Manufacturing system. Optimised for a 1000 CFM flow rate, it effectively contains any metal dust generated during the Cold Spray Additive Manufacturing process.
The entire system is controlled by a VRC Pendant Controller, allowing users to initiate the Additive Manufacturing process with a few clicks. Internal data logging, available via both USB and non-USB transfer options, enables users to record their build processes anywhere and back up data for future analysis. The pendant can store up to 100 Cold Spray Additive Manufacturing ‘recipes,’ providing flexibility for common use cases. These recipes can be user-defined or loaded from VRC Metal Systems’ pre-approved collection.
