Sciaky Delivering World’s Largest Metal EB DED 3D Printer

Sciaky Inc. — a subsidiary of Phillips Service Industries (PSI) — will deliver the world’s largest electron beam (EB) directed energy deposition (DED) 3D printer (a customized 300 Series Electron Beam Additive Manufacturing (EBAM) system) to Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI). The contract between TAI and Sciaky also includes collaboration on a series of projects aimed at optimizing TAI’s use of the EBAM machine and its technology.

The EBAM machine is going to TAI’s Ankara, Turkey, plant where it will 3D print some of the largest titanium aerostructures in the industry. The machine’s work envelope stretches beyond 6 m × 2 m × 1.8 m. Deposition rates will exceed 20 kg/hr. for many metal alloys. On top of the technical specifications, this 3D printer can quickly switch over to an Electron Beam Welder (EBW) for large-scale welding applications, the company says. TAI will also have the advantage of combining EB welding and 3D printing functionality for applications that require both technologies.

Launched by the Ministry of Industry and Technology in 1973 to reduce Turkey’s foreign dependence in the defense industry, Turkish Aerospace has embraced innovation for nearly five decades. Beginning with the decision to use F-16 aircraft for the Turkish Air Force in 1984, Turkish Aerospace formed TAI, a Turkish-U.S. joint investment company, to carry out the manufacturing of F-16 aircraft, including the integration of onboard systems and flight tests. In 2005, Turkish Aerospace restructured to expand its overall capabilities, becoming Turkey’s technology center for the development, modernization, manufacturing, system integration and life cycle support of its aviation and space programs.

As a scalable metal AM solution (in terms of work envelope), Sciaky’s EBAM systems can produce parts ranging from 8” (203 mm) to 20 ft. (> 6 meters) in length. EBAM is also among the the fastest deposition processes in the metal AM market, with gross deposition rates ranging from 7 to 25 lbs. (3.18 to 11.34 kg) of metal per hour.

Delivery details for this multipurpose EBAM system are still being finalized.