Titanium powder used to print automotive parts in 3D news

domain-b ^ | January 1, 2014

[Portcall24]

But somewhat difficult to isolate because it’s not heavy and it’s not light.

[Wonder Warthog]

"Non-reactive titanium would work well for some things."

Titanium is FAR from being "non-reactive". What gives titanium metal parts relative inertness is the almost instantaneous formation of a very strong and tenacious oxide layer at the surface (like aluminum and magnesium, only more so).

[JRandomFreeper]

Whatever it's called. As long as it doesn't turn my greens gray like aluminum does. And doesn't scrape off in the food easily like aluminum does.

/johnny

[JRandomFreeper]

I was looking around the kitchen to decide what I would want out of Ti. My number 1 choice is the grinder body and screw feed for my commercial KitchenAid(tm) mixer.

That alone would be worth a couple of hundred bucks.

/johnny

[Insigne123]

Titanium oxide’s used in making vitamins, sunscreen, lubricants, cosmetics, and Chinese shirts & socks that don’t stink from body odor when exposed to sunlight

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

Titanium powder doesn’t cost more than a few cents a pound, right? /s

"The Metalysis process could reduce the price of titanium by as much as 75 per cent, making titanium almost as cheap as specialty steels.

Given that titanium is:

• as strong and heat-resistant as steel.
• as light as aluminum
• the most bio-compatible metal for surgical implants,

Titanium parts could have wide applicability even if the price per pound is higher than steel. If you make a part out of titanium only 1/3 as heavy as out of steel but just as strong, your cost of that much titanium is only 1/3 as much as would be required if you made the titanium part as heavy as the steel part. And there are parts for which an advantage in strength-to-weight ratio has a big payoff. A salient example would be the reciprocating parts of an engine. Pistons are made of aluminum for that reason, even though pistons are subject to a lot of stress, including high temperature. If you could cut the mass of the piston in half by using titanium, you might be able to increase your allowable RPM by 41% since the stress is proportional to the mass and to the square of the RPM. That could pay off big time in the design of a diesel engine, which traditionally has had a RPM red line well below the speed which would deliver maximum horsepower.

To a first approximation, you would design the structure of the titanium piston of a diesel as if it were an aluminum piston of a gasoline engine - and be able to operate at the same RPM as the gasoline engine would, improving the power and operability of the diesel engine.

Another point mentioned in the article is the possibility of making alloys of different metal powders - raising the possibility that you might trade off cost for strength continuously over the dimensions of the part - titanium where the stress is high, aluminum where it is low, appropriate mixtures in between. Makes me wonder how expensive it would be to make sheet aluminum with a thin “veneer" of titanium on both surfaces . . .

[null and void]

Whatever it's called. As long as it doesn't turn my greens gray like aluminum does. And doesn't scrape off in the food easily like aluminum does.

*shrug* Cooking Extee-Three* in titanium cookware is about the only way to make it palatable to Fuzzys

But you're just a cook, I'm sure you know all about hokfusine...

*EMERGENCY FIELD RATION. EXTRATERRESTRIAL SERVICE TYPE THREE

[JRandomFreeper]

I had completely forgotten about Fuzzies. I read those back when I was a kid.

/johnny

[null and void]

I had to look up the details m’self...

[JRandomFreeper]

Project Gutenberg has the first book in multiple formats. I downloaded e-pub and am re-reading it via html file.

I had forgotten how good Piper was. I need to see if I have any of his books in my dead-tree library. They are worth a re-read.

I'd really rather have them in e-pub format though...

/johnny

[uncommonsense]

"Build a diesel engine by printing it and you won't have near the gasket or leak problems that are so common with all internal combustion engines."

I only have a basic understanding of diesel engines (I've rebuilt many 2 and 4 stroke gassers)...

Why would a diesel, with higher cylinder pressure, have less stringent tolerances for seals? Less volatile / caustic fuel?

[right way right]

They don’t.
I was writing about the possibility of printing an engine more fully complete in what would be considered an essembled or nearly assembled unit by todays methods, thereby greatly reducing the amount of individual parts caused by the manufacturing process.
I’m writing about not having the need for separate heads, engine blocks, cranks, head gaskets, oil pan gaskets, bed plates etc. Its printed not assembled.
As it is today more Oil leaks on diesel engines are tolerated by consumers due to labor cost and frequency, so I was thinking more in that direction.

Being a tech my first thought is they would leak less but be less servicable
and more durable.

[right way right]

Maybe I could print my own artifical knees or hips and sell them on the newly created U.S. medical Black Market.
I want one of these printers but I’m supposing I’ll have to wait until the Chinese steal them and build them, so I can afford one.

[uncommonsense]

"I was writing about the possibility of printing an engine more fully complete in what would be considered an essembled or nearly assembled unit by todays methods, thereby greatly reducing the amount of individual parts caused by the manufacturing process."

This is the most exciting part of "additive manufacturing"...

and your point about reducing serviceability (IMHO) will be mitigated by being able to "print" new parts, one-off, with impunity and added benefits.

I believe this technology will be most useful in creating medical devices or replacement body parts. I think especially when multiple materials can be laid down just like different colors in an inkjet printer.

[taxcontrol]

Or print with PLA plastic and us lost wax casting to make your own guns.

[Chode]

well, there is that option...