3D Printed Bronze

9 11 2011

All photos.

Years ago I looked into Prometal’s 3D metal printing process. The results were impressive but the stainless steel is magnetic:

This disqualified them as magnet holders!

Recently Prometal let me know about an experimental bronze process they are developing. Bronze is totally non-magnetic. BINGO!

Prometal donated a test part to see if I could make an airtight braze with a TIG welder:

The part was to be brazed to a Swagelok VCR fitting like this:

Prometal is still adjusting the process. This test part is a bit oversize so it was difficult to braze, but we got something:

The bronze attaches to the stainless nicely.

I was excited to put it in the chamber like this:

But I screwed up. I welded on the wrong VCR cajon. This one is two short to catch the male thread once the gasket is added.

Dammit.

I had the right part here all along; shown on the left:

So no vaccum check for now. But it looks like the 3D printed bronze parts braze nicely.

I count that as a win. Think of the parts I can make with 3D printed bronze + brazing.


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3 responses

12 11 2011
26 11 2011
Jacob

Sophos tells me that the link to Prometal’s website you posted is a malware attack site. Are you sure it’s the correct URL?

11 12 2011
Remy Dyer

could you swap the gasket for a small Cu washer?
Perhaps even a small piece of foil might seal well enough to work – if it does hold vacuum, this might be good enough to tell.

If it doesn’t, you’ve only wasted a little time, since you won’t know if the leak was in the part under test, or the fitting, in which case you’ll need to cut it up and try again.

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