Primus Aerospace Adopts VELO3D’s Titanium Additive Manufacturing System

VELO3D said it is the first advanced metal 3D-printing system of its kind for flight-critical aerospace and defense applications.

VELO3D


Engineers examine a titanium fuel tank printed on a VELO3D additive manufacturing system with no internal supports.
VELO3D has sold its first titanium-dedicated 3D printing system to be used solely for mission-critical aerospace and defense applications.

VELO3D this month announced that Primus Aerospace has joined its partner network with the purchase of a Ti6Al4V Sapphire metal additive manufacturing system.

Primus Aerospace is a a leading contract manufacturing partner to aerospace and defense OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers worldwide. Established in 1989, the Lakewood, Colo.-based company has grown into a vertically-integrated manufacturing operation. It also operates a sales and engineering office in Arizona and a distribution warehouse in the Netherlands. Primus' customers include Lockheed, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics, and Raytheon.

VELO3D said its integrated, full stack offering of software, hardware, and process-control innovation allows engineers to accelerate product innovation, be more responsive to market needs, and reduce costs. The Silicon Valley-based company also recently announced its merger with special-purpose acquisition company JAWS Spitfire Acquisition Corp.

Primus Aerospace to use first dedicated VELO3D printer

The companies said the Sapphire system is the first titanium-dedicated metal 3D printer from VELO3D that will be used solely for aerospace and defense applications. Primus said it has identified the additive manufacturing (AM) system as the best solution for many of its products, including cube satellites, hypersonics, and turbine engines.

Primus Aerospace offers a broad array of build-to-print manufacturing and integration services, including multi-axis machining, mechanical and electrical assembly, 3D printing, waterjetting, electrical discharge machining (EDM), testing services and design support.

3D-printed titanium fuel tanks and pressure vessels are designed for use in aerospace and defense applications.

“Primus is proud to be a leader in this manufacturing category,” stated Gary Vaillancourt, vice president of engineering and technical sales at Primus Aerospace. “Our customers require maximum performance of their aerospace-related systems and, together with VELO3D, we can redefine what is possible in manufacturing through advanced AM technology.”

VELO3D said the partnership will give Primus Aerospace design freedom to “enable the realization of previously unattainable geometries and optimized solutions as well as the exploration of novel aerospace applications.”

“Primus Aerospace is an excellent partner for us with their customer focus, commitment to innovation, and adoption of leading-edge technology,” said Benny Buller, founder and CEO of VELO3D. “Our capabilities will help them deliver to engineers and supply chain managers the part designs they want, not the limited part geometries that other commodity AM suppliers say they can have. The synergies between our two companies will support developers of new products to optimize their designs without compromise or restraint.”

Primus Aerospace said expects to take delivery of the titanium Sapphire System in the first quarter, and it will begin offering titanium printing at their facility located in Golden, Colo.

VELO3D provides examples of how CAD and 3D metals printing can serve novel applications.

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VELO3D

Engineers examine a titanium fuel tank printed on a VELO3D additive manufacturing system with no internal supports.


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