A U.S. company’s breakthrough will lower the costs of making electric vehicles by successfully creating copper components with 3D printers.
The Massachusetts company, Markforged Inc, says their new Metal X system will cut production and supply costs, while boosting the efficiency of motors for electric vehicles.
Copper’s high degree of heat conductivity had made it tough to 3D print parts using the traditional laser-based process. But Markforged changed the way copper powder is configured and heated.
“Instead of spreading it as a layer and using a laser to selectively melt parts of it, we wrap it in plastic and we kind of shoot it out like a tiny glue gun and layer by layer built up the part,” said CEO and founder Greg Mark.
3D printing provides the ability to create small, more complex, high tolerance parts economically eliminating the need for manufacturers to stockpile large quantities or buying and shipping them in from outside suppliers.
Markforged doesn’t produce parts for automakers. It sells them complete 3D printing systems that include the printer, washing station and furnace.
Electric vehicles can also benefit from 3D printing complex copper parts. “You want to get a high amount of power into electric motors through copper but you need to keep them cool,” said Mark. “If you can print the complex geometry with internal cooling channels you can get higher energy density, higher efficiency electric motors.”
See video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=UdiwBiw5dyo&feature=emb_logo
Markforged: https://markforged.com