11-08-2017: SPEE3D announced the global launch of "Supersonic Metal 3D Printing"
It was global premiere of LightSPEE3D 3D printer
On November 8, 2017, the Australian company SPEE3D officially introduced its innovative “supersonic 3D deposition” technology to the global AM market. The first commercial product was the LightSPEE3D printer, which quickly gained recognition in industrial and defense sectors due to its versatility and low operational costs.
Founded in 2014 by Byron Kennedy and Steven Camilleri in Melbourne, SPEE3D introduced a unique process that avoided traditional heat-based melting of metal powders. Instead, it accelerated metal particles to speeds three times the speed of sound, allowing for rapid material deposition on surfaces. This approach enabled SPEE3D to produce parts with industrial-grade quality at unprecedented speeds.
The basis of SPEE3D’s metal 3D printing innovation was cold spraying technology, developed in the Soviet Union in the 1980s. Originally designed for protective coatings, cold spraying uses high-pressure gas to deposit metal particles onto surfaces without melting them. When these particles reach supersonic speed, they bond to surfaces with sufficient kinetic energy, without generating high temperatures that could deform the substrate material.
The cold spraying process involves accelerating metal powder in a stream of compressed gas, passing through a de Laval nozzle, to reach speeds up to three times the speed of sound. Metal particles are then ejected onto the substrate, bonding to form a solid, uniform coating. This approach is especially advantageous for heat-sensitive metals like aluminum and copper, as it prevents oxidation and preserves their crystalline structure.
SPEE3D adapted cold spraying to create “supersonic 3D deposition” (SP3D) giving the technology a transformative role in additive manufacturing. Through process modifications, SPEE3D achieved printing speeds up to 1000 times faster than traditional methods, producing industrial-grade metal parts on demand.
The LightSPEE3D printer enabled large industrial components to be produced quickly, bypassing lengthy prep times and complex procedures. SPEE3D’s cold spraying allows the production of high-density, durable parts ready for immediate industrial use, revolutionizing metal 3D printing.
Source: www.metal-am.com