The American 6K Additive is preferred supplier for 3D Systems when it comes to tungsten powder for the DMP metal printers. Thanks to 6K Additive’s UniMelt process for making metal powders, it can make materials such as tungsten, rhenium, tantalum and niobium and molybdenum suitable for additive manufacturing.
This gives the users of 3D Systems’ DMP systems access to a set of refractory materials with high strength properties. Applications can be found in the medical, defense and aerospace industries, among others.
Powders of refractory materials
Last year, 6K Additive announced the ability to produce a full range of refractory materials for additive manufacturing, which historically have not been available for 3D metal printing. The reason for this is the difficulty of processing these materials into powder due to their high melting temperatures. The patented UniMelt system is the world’s only plasma system with a highly uniform and precise plasma zone without contamination and high throughput production capabilities. The UniMelt process produces powders that are truly spherical, free of porosity, with better flowability than other processes.
