ValCUN will showcase its latest metal 3D-printing solutions at the Formnext trade show in Frankfurt. ValCUN’s full product range will include both the Minerva Printer, and the Minerva Print Head as well as printed parts.
The Belgian company is introducing its Minerva Printer. We anticipated some of the details in this VM Podcast a few months back. It’s expected to have a higher deploymentability, cost-effectiveness and sustainability than the majority of metal printing processes currently available. The system utilizes ValCUN’s proprietary Molten Metal Deposition (MMD) technology.
Another hardware product, that will also be presented at the show, is the Minerva Print Head, which was developed to enhance the user’s flexibility and freedom to operate. The printhead is suitable for robotic arms, gantry system, production facilities, or other fabrication technologies.
The Molten Metal Deposit (MMD) technology achieves metal deposition in a single step, similar to Fused Filament Fabrication but using low-temperature materials. This well-known method uses readily-available metal wires to create the feedstock. It is user-friendly and can be implemented quickly.
The Minerva Printer, and its Minerva Print Head, are focusing their attention on Aluminum. This is a metal that has been highly demanded by the industry but which is not currently served by AM processes. The nature of the AM process allows printing of high-strength alloys such as the 6XXX Series and the 7XXX Series.
MMD is a process that promises to be more sustainable, thanks to its higher energy efficiency, lower waste, and the elimination of toxic chemicals or powders. MMD offers a reduction in the time to part due to its simple post-processing.
ValCUN’s team will be at Formnext 2023 to demonstrate the Minerva Printer and Minerva Print Head and to provide additional information on use cases and applications for this technology.
