Protolabs has launched a new 3D printing material for its metal laser sintering process-cobalt chromium alloy. The British-based company believes that heat-resistant, wear-resistant and corrosion-resistant materials will subvert many industries including oil and gas. In these industries, cobalt-chromium alloy parts could not be customized before.
Andrea Landoni, 3D printing product manager at Protolabs, said: "Cobalt-chromium alloy is one of the hardest materials known and can be polished to a very smooth surface. The advantage of 3D printing is that whether it is a complex geometry or to reduce weight, We can all produce it."
Protolabs 3D printed cobalt chromium parts
Cobalt-chromium alloys are known for their high corrosion resistance and low nickel content, providing excellent biocompatibility for medical and dental applications. Due to its creep resistance, it can operate at temperatures up to 600 degrees Celsius. The high strength to weight ratio also makes it ideal for aerospace applications.
This new material will be used with Protolabs' direct metal laser sintering service, which will heat the metal alloy powder with a high-power laser to melt it into a solid layer. Recoat the layers with powder and repeat the process until a 3D shape is formed. The resolution of the produced parts is extremely high, and the feature size and wall thickness can be as low as 1 mm. Protolabs claims to be able to complete the production of complex parts of the process in just one day, so it is known as "the world's fastest digital manufacturing company".
According to Landoni, CNC machining of cobalt-chromium alloys is actually very difficult due to its high wear resistance. Most importantly, when manufacturing using subtractive materials, the geometry and structure of the parts produced are often limited. For companies that want to quickly prototype and test the shape and function of new parts, 3D printing with new cobalt-chromium powder may be a viable method.
Landoni concluded: "The production process is very fast. After uploading the design to our Protoquotes software, you will usually receive a quotation within a few hours. Once approved, you can produce parts for express delivery in just one day .Compared with the quotations provided by other suppliers for days or even weeks, you can greatly shorten the development time and product delivery time."
3D printed CoCr parts can be polished
In the past few months alone, Protolabs has taken a series of major initiatives to expand its 3D printing capabilities. The company recently announced that it will add a GE Additive X-Line 2000R large format 3D printer to its already extensive machine portfolio by the end of summer 2020. Protolabs also invested ￡10.5 million to build a new 3D printing factory in Putzbrunn, Germany. This 5000 square meter factory is expected to increase the company's production capacity by 50%.