Velo3D Qualifies M300 Tool Steel for Use in Its Sapphire Family of Printers

Rhea-AI Summary

Velo3D has qualified M300 tool steel for its Sapphire printers, enhancing capabilities for automotive manufacturers. This ultra-low carbon alloy offers high strength and hardness, promising improved tooling inserts and manufacturing throughput. The first printed parts will be showcased at IMTS 2022 in Chicago from Sept. 12-17. Velo3D's technology allows for complex designs with large internal cooling channels, reducing costs and increasing product durability. System deliveries are expected to commence in Q4 2022.

Positive

• Qualification of M300 tool steel increases market demand, particularly from automotive manufacturers.
• Enhanced manufacturing capabilities with large internal cooling channels can lead to cost reductions and improved product durability.
• First M300 parts to be displayed at IMTS 2022, boosting visibility and potential sales.

Negative

• None.

The High-strength Alloy Combined with Velo3D’s End-to-end Solution Can Improve the Lifetime of Tooling Inserts and Enhance Manufacturing Throughput for Automotive Manufacturers

CAMPBELL, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Velo3D, Inc. (NYSE: VLD), a leading metal additive manufacturing technology company for mission-critical parts, today announced that M300 tool steel, an ultra-low carbon alloy that delivers very high strength and hardness, is qualified for use in Sapphire printers. Velo3D has already seen extensive interest in the alloy from automotive manufacturers for use in high-pressure die cast inserts, injection molding, and other types of tooling. The first M300 parts printed on a Sapphire printer will be shown at IMTS 2022 in Chicago on Sept. 12-17 in booth #433031.

Engineer evaluating an M300 tool steel print of conformal cooled tooling and high pressure die casting inserts. These types of inserts are widely used to manufacture parts for the automotive industry. (Photo: Business Wire)

“By qualifying M300 tool steel for use in our printers, we’re able to service entirely new industries, like automotive and tooling, that can leverage Velo3D’s advanced capability to print high quality, large diameter internal channels for their applications,” said Greg Brown, Velo3D VP of Technology. “By manufacturing die cast inserts and other tooling components with our technology, we expect companies will be able to build stronger products, improve machining throughput, and decrease manufacturing costs.”

Velo3D’s end-to-end solution is well suited for leveraging M300 tool steel due to its ability to print parts with high-quality surface finishes in complex large-diameter internal cooling channels. These channels can prolong the life of the tooling; however they can be difficult to create with conventional manufacturing methods. Furthermore, while many metal 3D printers can print smaller diameter holes, printing large channels can create roughness and susceptibility to cracking.

The company’s Sapphire XC 1MZ also provides customers with a large build volume—600 mm in diameter and 1000 mm in heights. This is the largest build volume in comparable printers from leading manufacturers, making it better suited to fulfill the requirements of industries that require the largest M300 tool steel inserts, like automotive.

Velo3D has seen high demand for Sapphire printers utilizing M300 tool steel in both Sapphire and Sapphire XC platforms. The company expects system deliveries will start as early as Q4 of 2022. To learn more about M300 tool steel in Velo3D Sapphire printers, visit velo3d.com/material-m300-tool-steel.

About Velo3D:

Velo3D is a metal 3D printing technology company. 3D printing—also known as additive manufacturing (AM)—has a unique ability to improve the way high-value metal parts are built. However, legacy metal AM has been greatly limited in its capabilities since its invention almost 30 years ago. This has prevented the technology from being used to create the most valuable and impactful parts, restricting its use to specific niches where the limitations were acceptable.

Velo3D has overcome these limitations so engineers can design and print the parts they want. The company’s solution unlocks a wide breadth of design freedom and enables customers in space exploration, aviation, power generation, energy, and semiconductor to innovate the future in their respective industries. Using Velo3D, these customers can now build mission-critical metal parts that were previously impossible to manufacture. The end-to-end solution includes the Flow print preparation software, the Sapphire family of printers, and the Assure quality control system—all of which are powered by Velo3D’s Intelligent Fusion manufacturing process. The company delivered its first Sapphire system in 2018 and has been a strategic partner to innovators such as SpaceX, Honeywell, Honda, Chromalloy, and Lam Research. Velo3D has been named to Fast Company’s prestigious annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies for 2021. For more information, please visit Velo3D.com, or follow the company on LinkedIn or Twitter.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1996. The Company’s actual results may differ from its expectations, estimates and projections and consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Words such as “expect”, “estimate”, “project”, “budget”, “forecast”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “plan”, “may”, “will”, “could”, “should”, “believes”, “predicts”, “potential”, “continue”, and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the Company’s expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions, or strategies for the future. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described in the documents filed by the Company from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Most of these factors are outside the Company’s control and are difficult to predict. The Company cautions not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, including projections, which speak only as of the date made. The Company does not undertake or accept any obligation to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

VELO, VELO3D, SAPPHIRE, and INTELLIGENT FUSION, are registered trademarks of Velo3D, Inc.; and WITHOUT COMPROMISE, FLOW and ASSURE are trademarks of Velo3D, Inc. All Rights Reserved © Velo3D, Inc.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220908005184/en/

Media Contact:

Dan Sorensen, Senior Director of Public Relations

press@velo3d.com

Investor Relations:

Bob Okunski, VP Investor Relations

investors@velo3d.com

Source: Velo3D, Inc.

FAQ

What is M300 tool steel's significance for Velo3D?

M300 tool steel enhances Velo3D's capabilities in producing high-strength tooling inserts for automotive and manufacturing industries.

When will Velo3D showcase the first M300 printed parts?

The first M300 parts will be displayed at IMTS 2022 in Chicago from September 12-17.

How does M300 tool steel improve manufacturing for automotive companies?

M300 tool steel allows for high-quality, complex tooling with larger internal channels, increasing throughput and reducing manufacturing costs.

When does Velo3D expect to start system deliveries utilizing M300 tool steel?

Velo3D anticipates starting system deliveries as early as Q4 of 2022.

What advantages does Velo3D's Sapphire printer offer?

The Sapphire printer provides a large build volume of 600 mm in diameter and 1000 mm in height, accommodating larger components.