Duncan Machine Products to install VELO3D Sapphire system for oil and gas
VELO3D has signed on a new customer from the oil and gas industry, Duncan Machine Products (DMP). The company, a woman-owned, full-service precision machining company based in Duncan, Oklahoma, will utilize VELO3D’s Sapphire metal 3D printing solution to meet an increasing demand for faster production times and improved part performance.
Incorporated in 2007, DMP is an important supplier of parts to the oil and gas and aerospace industries. In order to keep up with customer demand, the company has decided to add metal additive manufacturing to its production arsenal. DMP chose VELO3D’s Sapphire technology specifically because of its support-free capabilities and high degree of geometric freedom.
“We know that AM is essential for our future expansion,” said Chris Billings, Co-Owner of Duncan Machine Products. “We chose VELO3D because their Sapphire printer can handle the most geometric complexity, and their support-less process doesn’t require customers to redesign their parts. This will enable us to bid on a larger portfolio of projects. We put VELO3D to the test on a series of customer-driven part builds and, in the end, it was an easy selection.”
To date, DMP has received orders to 3D print a minimum of 1,500 parts for downhole tools, which are used in onshore and offshore exploration. This order also has the potential to increase by as much as 10 times in the next 24 months. According to DMP, it will transition this particular production application to metal AM from investment casting, which it had used previously.
“The conditions under which downhole tools must perform are hostile and include extreme pressure and high-temperature situations, requiring a robust and dependable manufacturing solution,” Billings added.
Benny Buller, Founder and CEO of VELO3D, emphasized why the Sapphire system is well-suited for these robust applications: “Metal AM is a very compatible manufacturing process for the oil and gas industry, given the complex engineering requirements. Our SupportFree technology can make highly complex geometries without the burden of post-processing—providing repeatability, process gains and greater productivity for oilfield service providers.”
VELO3D’s Sapphire metal AM system will be delivered to DMP in the second quarter of 2020, adding to its already broad production capability.
