New Sapphire XC 1MZ enables metal 3D printing up to 1m in height

Velo3D, a leading metal additive manufacturing technology company for mission-critical parts, has added the new Sapphire XC 1MZ large-format printer to its Sapphire family of printers. The Sapphire XC 1MZ printer allows customers to print parts up to one meter in height – with a total build volume twice the size of the Sapphire XC and nine times larger than the original Sapphire – increasing the addressable use-cases of Velo3D’s end-to-end metal additive manufacturing solution.

The Sapphire XC 1MZ has the largest laser powder bed fusion print volume compared to other leading manufacturers. The Sapphire XC 1 MZ system combines Velo3D’s geometric capabilities with the repeatable, standardized processes and validated material properties necessary to achieve distributed manufacturing in a larger format. The Sapphire XC 1MZ large-format printer was designed based on feedback from customers in the aerospace, energy, and defense industries. The first systems are expected to be delivered to several aerospace companies in late Q3 2022.

“Without advanced metal additive manufacturing it would be difficult – to impossible – to build many of the technologies that are shaping the future of our world,” said Benny Buller, Velo3D CEO and Founder. “Our innovative customers have a clear understanding of how the technology can unlock new capabilities for their businesses and transform their product offerings. New systems, like the Sapphire XC and Sapphire XC 1MZ, support that transformation by significantly increasing throughput up to 400% and lowering costs by up to 75% compared to the original Sapphire.”

With a build volume of 600mm x 1,000mm, the Sapphire XC 1MZ has the largest build volume of any laser powder bed fusion printer in its class – nine times larger than the original Sapphire and 30% larger than printers from other leading manufacturers. The printer contains eight 1-kilowatt lasers, and an integrated, end-to-end manufacturing solution including Flow print preparation software and Assure quality assurance software. The printer uses the Intelligent Fusion manufacturing process that has been proven in production on Sapphire and Sapphire XC for consistent, repeatable results across different printers. As well as a faster non-contact recoater to decrease the time required between build layers.

The Sapphire XC 1MZ will be available in all the materials currently offered by Velo3D, including Aluminum F357, Amperprint 0233 Haynes 282, GRCop-42, Hastelloy C22, Hastelloy X, Inconel 625, Inconel 718, Scalmalloy, and Titanium 6AI-4V Grade 5.

The Sapphire family of printers comprises four unique system variations that are fully compatible with one another – running the same processes across all printers in a way that delivers consistent results on any machine. Enabling customers that validate one printer for production use, to simply add additional printers to increase productivity. The original Sapphire printer is capable of printing parts that are 315mm in diameter and 400mm in height, whereas the new Sapphire 1MZ is capable of printing parts that are 315mm in diameter and 1m in height. The Sapphire XC has a build volume of 600mm in diameter by 550mm in height.