Equispheres and 3D Systems: Partnership for high-performance aluminum powder from North America

Equispheres has entered into a supply agreement with 3D Systems that will enable the use of Equispheres’ North American-made aluminum powder with 3D Systems’ DMP Flex 350 and DMP Factory 350 systems.

“We are very excited about this supplier agreement with a partner that has such deep knowledge of 3D printing. Our materials print significantly faster than traditional aluminum powders, which dramatically lowers part production time and per-part costs,” says Evan Butler-Jones, Vice-President Product & Strategy for Equispheres. “When combined with 3D Systems’ expertise in applications and its DMP Flex 350 and DMP Factory 350 printers, customers can expect to push past previous limitations related to speed and repeatability.”

Tests have shown that productivity increases of up to 50 percent can be achieved by combining the powder with 3D Systems’ printing systems. With a layer thickness of 60 micrometers, the printers achieved a build speed of 49.7 cubic centimeters per hour with an average material density of 99.8 percent. These properties make the material particularly attractive for industries such as aerospace and automotive, where lightweight and thermally conductive components such as brackets, heat exchangers or passive RF components are in demand.

“We are pleased to enter this supplier agreement with a North American company such as Equispheres,” said Marty Johnson, vice president, product & technical fellow, 3D Systems. “As a leading additive manufacturing solutions provider, we value the opportunity to work with up-and-coming companies. Equispheres has developed an interesting material that enables 3D Systems’ customers to produce high quality parts when used with our DMP Flex 350 and DMP Factory 350 printers. We look forward to seeing how this can help push the boundaries for production applications.”

Aluminum is valued in additive manufacturing for its low weight and thermal conductivity. The uniform particle size and specific properties of Equispheres powder ensure precise mechanical properties and high repeatability. These advantages make the material particularly suitable for applications in the aerospace, automotive, motorsport and energy sectors. Manufacturers also benefit from a secure North American supply chain that combines performance and reliability.