Induction heating firm Tucker Induction Systems has partnered with metal 3D printer manufacturer Nikon SLM Solutions to offer copper 3D printing services in the United States.
The strategic partnership has seen the Michigan-based heating equipment and tooling manufacturer acquire an SLM 280 Production Series (PS) system. This metal laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) 3D printer is being used to produce induction coils and copper components, serving customers across various industries.
According to Nikon SLM, copper 3D printing remains relatively rare in the US, with this partnership addressing a notable gap in the market. The partnership reportedly positions Tucker Induction Systems as a “leader in copper printing technology.”
“We are excited to be one of the few companies in the US printing induction coils with copper,” commented Joshua Tucker, Manager at Tucker Induction Systems. “Our collaboration with Nikon SLM Solutions allows us to push the boundaries of what’s possible in the induction industry.”
Expanding Nikon SLM’s copper 3D printing in the US
According to SLM, this copper 3D printing capability enhances Tucker Induction Systems’ production efficiency and unlocks new possibilities for the production of complex and high-performance designs.
According to Rocky Tucker, Owner of Tucker Induction Systems, adopting the SLM 280 PS has allowed the company to innovate and develop functional copper inductors. “Their [Nikon SLM’s] technology and eagerness to collaborate have been key to our success,” he added.
The SLM 280 PS is a twin-laser 3D printer with a 280 x 280 x 365 mm build volume that is reportedly 25% larger than standard mid-sized metal 3D printers. Besides copper, the SLM 280 PS is compatible with pure metal powders and stainless steel, titanium, aluminum, and nickel alloys.
Designed to support production applications, it employs Nikon SLM’s patented multi-laser scan strategy. This minimizes soot interference, alters layer stitching and produces parts with the same density and mechanical properties as single-laser builds.
Laminar gas flow technology creates a clean process environment and enhances build quality. Additionally, the metal powder is transported, sieved and stored within an inert gas atmosphere to maintain powder quality.
“We are thrilled to support Tucker Induction Systems in pioneering copper printing for the induction industry,” stated Charlie Grace, CCO at Nikon SLM Solutions. “This partnership exemplifies our commitment to driving innovation and delivering cutting-edge solutions that address the evolving needs of our customers.”
Tucker Induction Systems is one of the latest firms to adopt Nikon SLM’s 280 PS technology. Earlier this year, metal alloy specialist Howco Metals Management LLC acquired two of the LPBF 3D printers, bringing its total number of SLM systems to four.
These newly adopted 3D printers form part of an exclusive initiative to develop and deploy C-103 Alloy process parameters for aerospace applications. Howco also obtained exclusivity for non-defense applications of C-103 Niobium Alloy for three years on SLM 280 and SLM 500 3D printers.
The strategic development will reportedly allow the company to upscale its material production capabilities. According to Conrad Kao, Director of Additive Manufacturing at Howco, the SLM 280 PS 3D printers will enhance the firm’s operational efficiency and meet the “intricate needs of the aerospace industry.”
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Developments in copper 3D printing
Copper boasts excellent electrical and thermal conductivity and ductility, offering value for industrial applications ranging from aerospace to automotive. It is reportedly the third-largest materials market in the world, worth over $170 billion globally.
Copper 3D printing provides manufacturers with greater geometric freedom, less wastage, and lower cost for short-run parts, leading to its growing adoption in the 3D printing industry.
Last year, Nikon SLM Solutions created new material parameters for NASA‘s GRCop-42 copper alloy. Designed to meet the growing demand for 3D printing GRCop-42 in space applications, the “ready-made solution” seeks to alleviate powder supply challenges and optimize the material for SLM 3D printers.
The parameters were designed with scalability in mind, being tailored to large-format 3D printers such as the NXG XII 600. According to Nikon SLM, the parameters enable a density of 99.97% and stable properties in single- and multi-laser overlap regions of the 3D printer’s build area.
Elsewhere, additive manufacturing production and engineering company Amnovis and Belgian research university KU Leuven have previously partnered to commercialize the latter’s copper 3D printing technology.
Developed by KU Leuven researchers over six years, the technology allows Amnovis to 3D print copper parts with high conductivity and strength. The partnership includes an IP license agreement for the distinctive copper 3D printing approach. As such, Amnovis is free to fabricate high-density, complex-shaped conductivity parts with cells embedded as thin as 200 microns.
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Featured image shows copper parts 3D printed on the SLM 280 PS. Photo via Nikon SLM Solutions.
