3D printing specialist Velo3D and PWR Advanced Cooling Technology have teamed up to qualify Aheadd CP1, an aluminum alloy developed by Constellium, for use in Sapphire printers.
PWR plans to use it to produce efficient, compact and lightweight heat exchangers for Formula 1 and other high-performance components. Aheadd CP1 will be qualified for printing 50-micron and 100-micron layers.
The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) has approved the Aheadd CP1 alloy for use in Formula 1 cars starting with the 2024 season. PWR is working with professional motorsport teams to provide them with ready-to-use heat exchangers.
“Our team is committed to listening to customers and enhancing our technology to meet their needs, so when PWR came to us with a challenge of qualifying a new alloy with a first-of-its-kind parameter set, we were thrilled to partner with them on the project,” said Dr. Zachary Detweiler, Velo3D Vice President of Technology. “Aheadd CP1 is the first alloy qualified in our Augsburg, Germany European Technology Center. Our American and European teams are both adept at creating scalable solutions for metal AM materials and we encourage companies who need customized material development for their applications to contact us about their specific requirements.”
For more than two decades, PWR has supplied high-performance radiators and finished parts to customers in Formula 1, NASCAR, V8 Supercars, German Touring Car Masters and other motorsports categories. The company also supplies customers in the energy, defense and aerospace industries. PWR is AS9100D and ISO 14001 certified, ITAR compliant and has Nadcap approvals for chemical processing and heat treatment services.
“Aheadd CP1 is a fantastic addition to our additive manufacturing services and Velo3D’s unparalleled print capabilities coupled with PWR’s brazed fin technology creates a unique performance differentiator for our customers,” said Mark Booker, PWR Technical Project Manager. “Our goal is to give our racing customers an unfair advantage on the track and we look forward to seeing these teams win using new parts manufactured by PWR.”
Aheadd CP1 is an aluminum-zirconium-iron alloy for laser powder bed fusion printers like Velo3D’s Sapphire family of printers. It is thermally stable, corrosion resistant, highly isotropic and features excellent surface finishes.
Find out more about Velo3D at velo3d.com.
For more information about PWR Advanced Cooling Technology, please visit pwr.com.au.
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