At the International Manufacturing Trade Show (IMTS) 2024, additive manufacturing technology developer SPEE3D will showcase applications made from their newly released commercial-grade expeditionary nickel aluminum bronze (NAB) material. This key maritime material was developed in collaboration with the U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command's SUBSAFE program.

Renowned for its strength, antimicrobial and antifouling properties, and strong resistance to seawater corrosion, NAB is considered the gold standard in maritime applications. Yet, working with NAB poses significant challenges for vendors operating in the additive manufacturing space. This is due to the alloy’sSource: SPEE3D rich complexity and the standards required to ensure its performance in demanding marine environments.

By addressing these challenges head-on using innovative cold spray additive manufacturing (CSAM) technology, SPEE3D has developed a process that is simple, cost-effective and capable of printing cast-equivalent parts (or better) in a fraction of the time. SPEE3D’s printer can produce a propeller weighing 11 kg in just three hours, whenever and wherever it’s needed — cutting down production time and costs by a significant measure.

The material is ideal for prototyping, short runs and producing legacy parts dockside in forward maintenance areas and onboard environments. SPEE3D’s NAB also possesses desired properties that are achievable in non-expeditionary environments like service hubs, factories or laboratories, and excellent wear and corrosion resistance make this material the go-to choice for maritime, oil and gas, mining and defense industries.

Visit Booth #432416, West Hall, McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois, during September 9 to September 14 to discover how SPEE3D’s CSAM equipment can bolster control of supply chain processes with a capability to manufacture metal parts in minutes.