Velo3D and PWR Advanced Cooling Technology Qualify Aheadd^® CP1 Aluminum for Sapphire Printers

Velo3D, Inc, a leading metal additive manufacturing technology company for mission-critical parts, and PWR Advanced Cooling Technology have partnered to qualify Aheadd^® CP1, an aluminum alloy developed by Constellium, for use in Sapphire printers. PWR will use the alloy to manufacture highly efficient, compact, and lightweight heat exchangers for Formula 1 along with a variety of other components for their high-performance customers. In addition to the standard 50-micron layer thickness that all of Velo3D’s printers use, Aheadd^® CP1 is also being qualified to print in 100-micron layers, providing customers with a balance between finished part performance and system throughput.

Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the governing body over Formula 1 and other global motorsports, recently approved the Aheadd^® CP1 alloy for use in Formula 1 cars beginning in the 2024 season. This effort was largely driven by PWR—who works with many professional motorsports teams to provide them with finished, tested, ready-to-use heat exchangers—and its customers.

For more than 2 decades, PWR has provided its customers in F1, NASCAR, V8 Supercars, Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, and other motorsport categories with quality, high-performance aluminum radiators, intercoolers, oil coolers, and other finished parts. It also services customers in the energy, defense, and aerospace industries. The company is AS9100D and ISO 14001 certified, ITAR compliant, and has secured Nadcap accreditations for its chemical processing and heat-treating 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. 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,” said Mark Booker, PWR Technical Project Manager.

Aheadd^® CP1 is an aluminum, zirconium, iron alloy that is specially designed for laser powder bed fusion printers, like Velo3D’s Sapphire family of printers. It is thermally stable up to 300 degrees Celsius, provides excellent corrosion resistance, is highly isotropic, and printed parts have excellent surface finish and stable microstructures. Learn more about the Aheadd^® CP1 alloy on Constellium’s website.

To learn more about PWR’s manufacturing capabilities visit pwr.com.au.

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