Supersonic Jet Deposition of Metal Surpasses 3D Speed

"Australia "blows-away" the competition with supersonic jet printing"

Big deal! I just printed the following on my HP Office Jet 6968 in only 28 seconds.

Now yur just talkin' smack!

I was referring to the entrainment of metallic substrate particles in a supersonic jet of air. Nice looking model BTW.

No smack talk. Although I did follow your link and read and understood the article, your link is worded with "supersonic jet printing", you stated it was done in 30 seconds. I simply stated that I printed a supersonic jet in 28 seconds. I win! (could have been much faster at a lower quality setting, but I didn't want to show off too much.)

Seriously though, this is interesting. But I too, wonder about the noise level.

Well the rep is wearing ear protection throughout the printing and there is no sound at all except a music overlay so one would assume it is freak'n loud.

All very much in the demonstration phase of development as far as I can see so it may be a while until we in the industry can get our hands on the tech.

Also, minimum printing deposit accuracy and fine detail control is also very hard to gauge (it looks much looser than other methods) so I see this as more of a specialised replacement to short production run castings more than anything.

Still, neat.

Hustler

Na, B-58DD variant "Playboy"

Correct, B58 Hustler. One of the first models I built as a kid.

I have to see the video later, but,... that must be very loud....

Some supersonic processes...

Steam injector/eductor. Very loud, with the steam existing at super sonic speed.

Waterjet: Used to cut a variety of materials, this works beast underwater or cardboard bricks absorbing or deadening the sound. The jet of water (with/without abrasives. leave the mixing tube/nozzle at supersonic speed.

And now you have material being deposited, how thick are the stratified layers. Not to mention on any required movement (of mass) on the depositing process. (Or maybe the video shows how?)

Unfortunately, I only saw two pictures, no video yet. I tend to agree with your assessment of sound level produced. That is one reason for the cabinet containing the jet and the built up work.

https://www.3ders.org/articles/20171108-spee3d-announces-global-launch-of-lightspee3d-metal-3d-printer-with-supersonic-3d-deposition.html

Well with the information publically available they are certainly keeping things close to their chest regarding detail.

It appears we are currently limited to printing aluminum or copper by this technique. How long before we see alloys, and steels?

Really hard to say without detailed knowledge of how the metal particles are directed and controlled.

Sounds a little like (perhaps) other harder materials may be too abrasive on the equipment to be practical, or perhaps harder materials won't bond together properly when deposited on top of each other like nice soft materials like aluminium and copper.

I believe you have a good point. It may be that it will take a much higher velocity to do the harder metals, and the technology is just not there (yet).

Then again, small hard particles at high velocity sounds a lot like sand blasting. There may be a velocity over which the process becomes more about damage/removal than additive, especially for hard materials.

Seems like something hard would also have to be very tough for this process. Being prone to galling might be a good indicator.

I am wondering at what point the energetics with copper and aluminum substrate lead to sintering of new particles/incorporation into the surface (as some function of nozzle velocity).

Can a supersonic jet with entrained metallic particles be somehow focused, or does the geometry of a jet dictate this?