MELD has announced its newest machine, the 3PO. It features a MELD additive system with an integrated subtractive head that is independent of the additive portion. It offers a large cubic build space while eliminating the need for a separate subtractive machine.
3PO, named after Star Wars droids like the other MELD printers, has a print capacity of 157.5" x 106.0" x 39.4" (4,000 mm x 2,700 mm x 1,000 mm) with a print volume of 380 cu. ft. (10.8 cu. m). It offers continuous printing capability for large scale parts.
The subtractive capabilities include a standard 3-axis head, with an optional 5-axis head available. With a maximum travel speed of 475 IPM (12 m/minute), parts can be in service quickly and efficiently.
"The MELD process is a no-melt, open atmosphere technology capable of printing large metal parts at a scale not yet seen in the AM market," said a company spokesperson. "It yields isotropic, fully dense parts with low residual stresses. Because it is a no-melt process, even unweldable metals can be printed. MELD parts can be printed in hours or days as opposed to months or years for forged parts."
The MELD technology is designed to address several challenges facing the defense sector along with other industries:
- Supply chain disruptions caused by scarcity of metal spare parts
- Excessive repair and rework backlog caused by long lead times for backordered parts
- Lost operational availability caused by stress fractures and metal fatigue to equipment.
"In response to customer demand, we have increased the size of parts possible with MELD and added subtractive functionally to machine in features throughout the build," said CEO Nanci Hardwick.
While 3PO is the first MELD commercial off the shelf hybrid machine, it is not the first machine that MELD has been involved in that includes subtractive capabilities. The MELD technology is being deployed in a machine for the U.S. Army's Jointless Hull Program. This "World's Largest Metal Printer" incorporates additive and subtractive capabilities with a print volume of 20' x 30' x 12' (6.1 m x 9.1 m x 3.7 m).
For more information contact:
Meld Manufacturing
200 Technology Drive
Christiansburg, VA 24073
540-951-3980
websales@meldmanufacturing.com
www.meldmanufacturing.com