Sciaky, Inc. is to deliver the world's largest electron beam directed energy deposition (DED) 3D printer, a customised 300 Series Electron Beam Additive Manufacturing (EBAM) System, to Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI). The contract between TAI and Sciaky also includes collaboration on a series of projects aimed at optimising TAI's use of the EBAM machine and its technology.

The EBAM machine is going to TAI's Ankara, Turkey plant, where it will 3D print some of the largest titanium aerostructures in the industry. The machine's work envelope stretches beyond six metres in length by two metres in width by 1.8 metres in height. Deposition rates will exceed 20kg of metal per hour for many metal alloys. On top of the impressive technical specifications, this unique 3D printer can quickly switch over to an Electron Beam Welder (EBW) for large-scale welding applications. TAI will also have the advantage of combining EB welding and 3D printing functionality for applications that require both technologies.

"Sciaky's EBAM systems are the most widely sold, large-scale DED metal 3D printers in the world, having approved parts on land, sea, air, and space applications," says Scott Phillips, President of Sciaky, Inc. "We applaud TAI's vision for innovation and their ambitious plans to 3D print some of the largest titanium aerostructures in the world."

Sciaky's EBAM systems can produce parts ranging from eight inches (203 mm) to 20 feet (> 6 metres) in length. EBAM is also the fastest deposition process in the metal additive manufacturing market, with gross deposition rates ranging from seven to 25lbs. (3.18 to 11.34kg) of metal per hour. EBAM brings quality and control together with IRISS - the Interlayer Real-time Imaging and Sensing System, which is the only real-time adaptive control system in the metal 3D printing market that can sense and digitally self-adjust metal deposition with precision and repeatability. This innovative closed-loop control is the primary reason that Sciaky's EBAM 3D printing process delivers consistent part geometry, mechanical properties, microstructure, and metal chemistry, from the first part to the last.

Delivery details for this multi-purpose EBAM system are still being finalised.