KAM Partners with Elementum 3D

Keselowski Advanced Manufacturing (KAM; Statesville, NC) announced a partnership with additive materials development leader Elementum 3D (Erie, CO) to collaborate and create new opportunities for entry into the additive manufacturing (AM) industry.

Elementum 3D is supplying KAM with advanced materials for 3D printing, such as A6061- RAM2 powder, the only AM material comparable to wrought 6061-T6 properties. Aluminum 6061 is a commonly used aerospace and automotive aluminum alloy that was previously unprintable. KAM will be the first in North America to use 6061 in an SLM 280 printer. The combination of the SLM 280, which boasts twin 700 W lasers, plus the Elementum 3D 6061 powder will not only allow KAM to print at faster speeds, but will allow the hybrid manufacturer to do so in material that could not otherwise be accomplished. The 6061 will print an average of 65 percent faster in the SLM 280 and provide a big advantage in time savings to end users. This breakthrough advancement in AM is a major step forward for both companies.

“Our commitment to the development of advanced materials aligns well with their innovative growth plan based around hybrid manufacturing,” said Jacob Nuechterlein, the president and founder of Elementum 3D. “We are proud to partner with their team and evolve our technologies together. There’s increasing demand within our customer base for aluminum like the 6061. It’s taking off and this material is at the forefront of the trend.” Developing and using the 6061 material effectively will allow KAM to go after markets, such as aerospace and automotive, that currently use AlSi10Mg as the standard material. The ability to do so will be a game changer in the industry.

“This opens up a lot of doors for us and widens our overall capabilities offerings,” said Kevin Cwiok, the lead AM engineer for KAM. “To offer a replacement for traditional aluminum alloys that are not only faster, but are also more durable with better surface finish, I think we’ll have a lot of customers who will be really excited about that.”

The two companies will also work jointly on different development projects in additive, including the testing of new materials. Elementum 3D’s materials solutions increase product strength, durability and reduce weight. Their IP technology, reactive additive manufacturing (RAM), prohibits cracking that usually happens during solidification, while achieving or exceeding the same properties of the traditional alloys. Additionally, their ability to develop customized materials to match wrought properties, such as the 6061, provide a solution to materials that are not printable in their current form. Both companies have many synergies that strengthen the partnership, such as the drive to move at fast speeds and the desire to explore unchartered territories in additive manufacturing.

“I love what they’re doing,” said Brad Keselowski, the founder and chief executive officer of KAM. “Their materials enable us to engineer and manufacture metal 3D- printed parts that are faster and higher in quality than anything that is currently out in the marketplace. I think we’re going to continue to do a lot of innovative work together that’ll lead to positive developments within the additive community. It’s a really exciting time for both companies.”

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