AM pioneer Sintavia will use HIP in production of critical aerospace and defense parts.

A Quintus Technologies hot isostatic press (HIP) will round out the line-up of high-tech equipment in the 10,000-square-foot metal additive manufacturing (AM) center recently opened by Sintavia, LLC, in Davie, Fla.

The model QIH 15L press will give Sintavia serial production capability for metal parts that meet the exacting quality control standards required by the aerospace and defense industry.

“Without HIP technology, additively manufactured parts are susceptible to porosity and lack of fusion. HIP allows for near 100% net-density parts,” states Sintavia founder Brian Neff, who recognized the promise of AM, also known as 3D printing, during a long career in aviation and parts manufacturing.

The press for Sintavia is equipped with Quintus’s proprietary Uniform Rapid Cooling (URCTM), which, by incorporating densification and heat treatment in the same equipment, shortens cycle times for higher productivity. The QIH 15L will play a key role in allowing Sintavia’s aviation customers to respond to the mandate to compress build-to-fly time.

The press features a hot zone capability of 7.3 x 19.7 inches (186 x 500mm), enables pressures up to 30,000 psi (207 MPa), and handles temperatures up to 2550°F (1400°C). Its new modular design shortens installation time and reduces space requirements. It is delivered as a complete unit, with gas compressing system, cooling unit, transformers, electrical cabinets, and pressure vessel all mounted in a 103 x 73-inch skid.

“Quintus HIPs set the industry standard for technology and safety,” comments Sintavia co-founder and president Doug Hedges, adding, “While heat treatment is widespread, there is not a lot of HIP capacity available today. As the demand increases, we wanted to stay in front of the curve, controlling our own HIP needs.”

“As one of the first facilities of its kind, Sintavia is at the forefront of the additive manufacturing revolution,” states Jan Söderström, CEO of Quintus Technologies. “We are pleased to support their contributions to the aerospace and defense industry.”

The press, fully pretested in the Quintus workshop, will be shipped from Västerås, Sweden, in July. It will be commissioned and up and running in September 2016.

“As the AM process continues to penetrate various supply chains, not just aerospace and defense, you’ll see more applications requiring HIP-ing,” notes Mr. Neff. “For certain very critical parts, HIP will become more or less the standard.”

“Building and maintaining long-term relationships is of the highest importance in our daily business, and we warmly welcome Sintavia into the Quintus customer family,” Mr. Söderström concludes.