Australian metal 3D printer manufacturer Titomic has announced the completion of Phase II of the TAUV Soldier System project. According to the agreement with the Australian manufacturer of defense and law enforcement equipment TAUV, Titomic has delivered five prototype devices in less than 6 months. According to the company, the delivery was three times faster than the traditional lead times needed in the defense industry.
Jeff Lang, the Managing Director of Titomic said, “The successful delivery of the TAUV prototypes in just a matter of months further demonstrates the superior economics of TKF metal AM to compete, not only with other additive manufacturing companies, but with traditional methods like investment casting, metal injection moulding and CNC.”
“The TAUV project is a world first for additive manufactured Titanium defence products and realises Titomic Kinetic Fusion viability for commercial mass production and revenue opportunities.”
Titomic Fusion Technology
Founded in 2014, Titomic was established with the invention of an additive manufacturing process which used cold spraying coating method to form 3D objects. This process is termed Titomic Kinetic Fusion (TKF).
TKF was co-invented by Dr. Richard Fox who studied the application of cold spray coating in tissue engineering, specifically the use of cold spray with scaffolds to build 3D objects. In metal TKF, the cold-gas spray with scaffolds to fuse titanium particles together without melting.
Titomic has exclusive commercial rights to market the technology, which is patented under the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), an Australian government agency responsible for promoting scientific research.
3D printed Soldier Systems
Titomic and TAUV have been working together on two projects since last year. One of these was the development of a 3D printed titanium UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) using TKF, a prototype of which was completed earlier this year.
With another $1.8 million worth agreement, the above-mentioned UAV project was extended to include the development of a 3D printed soldier system and the two programs were combined and divided into three phases. Phase I of the program marked the completion of the UAV and now with the completion of Phase II, five prototype products used in a TAUV Soldier System have been unveiled.
Mr. Nathan Kalisch, CEO of TAUV said, “Initial testing of TAUV’s high-performance soldier system products manufactured by Titomic appear to have superior performance capabilities which we were seeking to achieve during this project utilizing Titomic’s TKF additive manufacturing process.”
In Phase III, Titomic will manufacture functional products used in the TUAV Soldier System, which include wearable and deployable devices such as helmet-mounted display, body armor, and communication equipment, etc.
Kalisch further added, “If all of the results continue to progress positively, these TKF produced products will provide TAUV with a significant market advantage over our competitors who are manufacturing using traditional methods.”
“Titomic’s TKF process enhances our offering to defence and law enforcement agencies through improved strength, functionality and capability. We have been impressed by Titomic’s very fast concept R&D feasibility process to bring our concept ideas to a commercial realisation.”
To learn more about applications of additive manufacturing, subscribe to our 3D printing newsletter. We also have live updates on Twitter and Facebook.
Visit our 3D Printing Jobs page to start a career in 3D printing.
Featured image shows a9 x 3 x 1.5 meter Titomic Kinetic Fusion 3D printer. Photo via Titomic.
