Currently, MELD can form magnesium, aluminum, aluminum silicon carbide, copper, copper metal matrix composites, magnesium, steel, strengthened steel, and ultra high strength steel.

Proven and previously “unweldable materials can be 3D printed in the process. The company explains too that “MELD is differentiated from other additive manufacturing technologies because it is a highly scalable, open atmosphere process with a high deposition rate that offers flexibility with material sets and yields a near wrought microstructure on near net shape complex 3D structures.” The MELD solid-state process creates much less residual stress than other melt pool creating metal 3D printing processes. Taking this technology a step further, MELD Manufacturing Corporation has made a friction stir based additive manufacturing process by using friction-generated heat to deposit metal powder or solid metal. Heat required for this process is generated by friction between the toolhead and the material, rather than the use of lasers. Invented at The Welding Institute (TWI) in the UK in December 1991, friction stir welding is a solid-state thermo-mechanical process capable of joining two workpieces without melting the workpiece material. It’s MELD additive manufacturing process has been in development for over a decade and is based on the friction stir welding metal joining process. Photo via AeroprobeĪeroprobe is a 20 year old company headquartered in Christiansburg, Virginia. MELD Manufacturing Corporation’s B8 machine.

Named MELD Manufacturing Corporation, the company holds patents for a metal 3D printing process and has developed its first model machine, the B8, which is made and ready to ship.

Aeroprobe, a measurement solutions provider known for its sensors used in aerospace, automotive, turbomachinery, wind turbine, and wind tunnel testing industries, has launched a new metal 3D printing subsidiary.

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