SPEE3D to Provide Additive Manufacturing Technology to Welding Outfit

EWI has announced which additive manufacturing technologies will be added to its new Cold Spray Research Center opening in 2022. Australian company, SPEE3D, has made the list. The company’s WarpSPEE3D printer will be installed at EWI’s Buffalo Manufacturing Works facility in New York, where it will be used to support EWI’s cold spray initiative to advance knowledge and capability within the field to facilitate and accelerate the successful application of cold spray technology across various manufacturing industries.

At the new facility, EWI’s researchers will use the WarpSPEE3D to explore and validate how cold spray can provide new manufacturing solutions for cost-effective replacement parts that can be deployed outside of research. 

“EWI looks forward to using the WarpSPEE3D technology to identify and accelerate the successful application of cold spray solutions across various manufacturing industries,” states Howie Marotto, EWI AM business director.

The technology was chosen due to its ability to manufacture parts quickly and affordably. The WarpSPEE3D is an example of how cold spray can be used in the real world, as demonstrated by the Australian Army who have been using the technology since 2020. In the Australian Army's latest trial, the WarpSPEE3D was transported 600 km out bush to produce parts during Exercise Koolendong. Over 3 weeks, the printer was successfully used to 3D print, validate and certify over a dozen armored vehicle parts in the field for the Australian Army’s M113 Armored Personnel Carrier vehicle.

WarpSPEE3D is a large-format metal 3D printer that uses SPEE3D cold spray technology. The printer is capable of printing low-cost, large metal parts up to 40 kg in weight at a speed of 100 grams per minute. At EWI, the WarpSPEE3D will support EWI to use cold spray.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.