By Mark Norfolk on Thursday, May 16th, 2019
In-space manufacturing has gained attention with the advent of 3D printing that allows generic feedstock to be molded into seemingly any shape imaginable. By stocking a few key feedstocks, 3D printing can be used in far reaching places to create repair parts or even generate new structures. With unique safety, weight, and power considerations, printingRead more
By Mark Norfolk on Thursday, May 16th, 2019
Common industry wisdom would have you believe that it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to print with aerospace aluminum such as 6061 and 7075. For most 3D printing technologies that rely on melting of powders or wires, this is true. Disadvantages of 3D Printing Aerospace Aluminums with Most 3D Printing Processes During high energyRead more
By Mark Norfolk on Thursday, March 7th, 2019
The number one question we hear at Fabrisonic is “We are currently CNC milling this part. How much cheaper can you print it?” The short answer that immediately comes out as, “If you can CNC mill it, for the love of God please CNC mill it.” Why You (Typically) Can’t 3D Print a Traditionally CNCRead more
By Mark Norfolk on Friday, January 18th, 2019
Like any new technology, 3D printing can be used for both good and for more nefarious applications. Many news headlines have warned about the possible security holes in 3D printing: 3D printers could enable criminals by giving them access to tools never imagined Additive manufacturing can be used to create unlicensed knock off merchandise TheRead more
By Mark Norfolk on Wednesday, December 5th, 2018
Embedding Sensors in 3D Printed Parts Have you ever wanted to know the exact strain in a critical component during operation? What if you could monitor your additive manufacturing process in situ … would that help you improve? Luna Innovations and Fabrisonic have been collaborating on 3D printed “smart structures” to answer these questions. Read more
By Mark Norfolk on Tuesday, November 27th, 2018
Often times when potential customers inquire about developing a new part, we get asked about the powders that we use in our 3D printing process. We always respond with “Our 3D printing processes do not use powder” Powder Bed Fusion (PBF) is the ASTM standard name for 3D printing techniques based on a powderRead more
By Mark Norfolk on Wednesday, September 5th, 2018
Joining of dissimilar metals is becoming more important as industries seek to optimize each portion of a product by combining different alloys into one part. For example in the automotive industry, bodies of vehicles are being made with aluminum to drive out weight, while frames of the vehicle are still being made with steel. WeldingRead more
By Mark Norfolk on Wednesday, September 5th, 2018
Fabrisonic has the unique ability to 3D print heat exchangers utilizing dissimilar metals and routinely 3D prints copper and aluminum heat exchangers. Our patented process, Ultrasonic Additive Manufacturing (UAM), is a low-temperature process which harness sound waves to merge layers of metal foil in a process that requires no melting. In aerospace aluminums, Fabrisonic hasRead more
By Mark Norfolk on Friday, August 24th, 2018
Metal-based Functionally Graded Materials (FGM’s) were somewhat of a theoretical exercise prior to the advent of additive manufacturing. Many applications of FGM’s have been conceived, but very few have moved to production. The idea is to make a composite material by interweaving two or more independent metals through thickness with a specific gradient. By interweavingRead more
By Mark Norfolk on Monday, July 2nd, 2018
Fabrisonic’s patented low-temperature 3D metal printing process, Ultrasonic Additive Manufacturing (UAM), is an enabling technology that allows engineers to print otherwise impossible heat exchangers. With UAM, designers can achieve dissimilar metals anywhere in the device, CNC surface finishes on both the exterior and interior surfaces, as well as the ability to embed sensors at anyRead more
