Metal Technology (MTI) has successfully 3D printed coupons in a key alloy required for space travel. C-103 is a niobium based alloy containing approximately 10% Hafnium and 1% Titanium. It is widely used in space applications because of its excellent formability, cost, weight, and reliability. However, until now it hadn’t been sintered from a powder form using the additive manufacturing processes. Metal Technology (MTI) is the first to use a powder-bed laser, Additive Manufacturing system to produce solids from C-103. MTI’s 3D Systems ProX 300 uses a powerful 500 watt laser which now opens the door for MTI to develop complex components for Space Primes such Aerojet Rocketdyne, ATK, Boeing, European Space Agency, Honeywell, JAXA, Lockheed Martin, Moog, NASA, Orbital Sciences, Pratt & Whitney, Sierra Nevada Corp., SpaceX, United Launch Alliance, UTC Aerospace and others.
MTI has been precision machining, deep draw forming, forging and fabricating in C-103 for years. “This project began in January, 2014 when we decided to pursue additive manufacturing as an additional capability to our operations. It’s a natural evolution of our work with C-103, to provide customers quicker deliver and more complex geometries” said Steve Smith, MTI’s Director of Sales & Marketing.
MTI will display an overview of its capabilities at the AIAA Propulsion and Energy Conference in Cleveland, Ohio from July 28-30. Stop by booth number 609 to discuss all of the developments at MTI and discuss how the company can partner in your propulsion development projects.
Source: MTI