Burloak Develops 3D Printing of Tungsten
As a leader in additive manufacturing, Burloak is a business that truly understands the importance of innovation. Our commitment to innovation has enabled us to push boundaries and develop novel processes, like becoming one of the only additive manufacturing companies in North America that can 3D-print tungsten for production applications.
Tungsten’s density and extremely high-melting point make it very difficult to manufacture conventionally but makes it a perfect fit for additive manufacturing. With its unrivaled material properties, tungsten is the ideal material for a range of unique applications that includes cathodes, radiation shielding, counterweights, projectiles, and other aerospace and defense applications.
“Developing the process to 3D print and post-process a new alloy can be very challenging and take a very long time,” says Keyvan Hosseinkhani, Burloak’s Technical Director. “Our team of subject matter experts coupled with our in-house 3D printing, heat treatment, and material testing capabilities give us the ability to take on challenging applications like the development of tungsten printing at a much faster rate than most.”
The tungsten printing process development was funded by the Downsview Aerospace & Innovation Research (DAIR) Green Fund, which provides financial support for collaborative R&D projects that can demonstrate a significant impact on sustainability in the aerospace industry. The DAIR Green Fund project is supported by the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).
“3D printing is a key manufacturing technology that is part of the aerospace industry’s push towards improved sustainability,” says Steven Cargnello, DAIR Green Fund Manager. “If we can expand on the types of materials that can be 3D printed, this will enable more companies to leverage the technology to reduce their environmental footprint and ultimately help them achieve their sustainability goals.”
In traditional manufacturing, components are often created by removing raw material from a block of metal to achieve the desired form. By contrast, additive manufacturing technologies use a cutting-edge process to sinter metal powder to build 3D components layer-by-layer – using only the necessary material to create the desired part.
One of the more exciting benefits of additive manufacturing is the ability to print a part at near-net shape, eliminating or significantly reducing the amount of post-processing needed without compromising on strength. With tungsten being such a difficult material to machine, the advantages of 3D printing tungsten can help companies meet their sustainability objectives by reducing waste while improving cost and performance. With support from DAIR’s Green Fund, Burloak is leading the way in offering greener and more efficient solutions for complex manufacturing challenges.
“Developing the process to 3D print and post-process a new alloy can be very challenging and take a very long time. Our team of subject matter experts coupled with our in-house 3D printing, heat treatment, and material testing capabilities give us the ability to take on challenging applications like the development of tungsten printing at a much faster rate than most.”
Keyvan Hosseinkhani
Technical Director,
Burloak Technologies