Wed, 29 June, 2022
We are pleased to announce the installation of a new Titomic Kinetic Fusion (TKF) cold spray machine at TWI Cambridge.
The TKF 1000 uses cold spray, also known as supersonic metal powder deposition, to create industrial-scale parts and complex surface coatings. Using TKF technology, co-developed by Titomic and Australia’s national science agency and innovation catalyst, CSIRO, the TKF 1000 uses a patented process for the application of cold-gas dynamic spraying of titanium or titanium alloy particles onto a scaffold to produce a load-bearing structure.
TKF accelerates metal particles to supersonic speeds by injecting them into a jetstream, which sprays the particles from a nozzle to collide and stick with a surface (and each other) through plastic deformation. This particle build-up rapidly produces near-net-shape metal parts. TKF can increase productivity, lower costs, and reduce waste by 80% compared to traditional machining.
TKF 1000
The TKF 1000 at TWI is able to support a range of low to mid-size production applications with its off-the-shelf, turnkey additive manufacturing system offering rapid and agile manufacturing, prototyping, custom parts, and pilot runs prior to mass production.
The TKF 1000 can be used with a wide range of metals and alloys including titanium, steel, copper, nickel and magnesium. Because the system can fuse dissimilar metals, it can be used to create composites metal items that exploit the strengths of multiple metals in a single part.
System Features:
- 6 axis robotic manoeuvrability
- Rapid deposition rates
- Protective, sound-dampening booth
- Integrated dust extraction
Specifications:
- Build envelope: 1m x 1m x 1m
- Footprint: 6.5m x 4.3m x 3m
- Shuttle load: 1000kg
Speaking on the installation, Herbert Koeck, Managing Director of Titomic, commented, “The partnership with TWI, one of the world’s leading research and technology organisations, furthers our credentials in the aerospace sector. The UK government is awarding grants to technology that helps improve its aerospace manufacturing, so the capabilities of the TKF1000 have been validated through it being a part of the ATI programme.
“The sale of TKF Systems for research and development is part of Titomic’s diversified revenue strategy, which also includes joint ventures and sales from consumables, and machine solutions in key sectors such as defence and aerospace.
“TWI will be able to unlock new possibilities with the TKF1000 and to see further advancements of aerospace technology. We look to continuing this partnership with TWI’s industry base in the years ahead.”
TWI section manager, Henry Begg said, “TWI is excited to expand our cold spray capability significantly with the acquisition of the TKF1000 system. Having been active in cold spray research for the past 15 years, we will now be able to perform larger and more complex fabrications and, working closely with Titomic and our wide Industrial Membership base, develop the potentially revolutionary opportunities this technology brings. Complementing our existing facilities for laser, arc and electron beam additive manufacture, the TKF1000 offers a fundamentally new approach to fabrication, bypassing some of the challenges associated with solidification and opening up the possibility of multi-material builds.”
The TKF 1000 will shortly be ready for use in support of our Industrial Members; contact us, below, to find out more.
The TKF 1000 at TWI was acquired with a grant from the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) programme, a £3.9 billion joint government and industry initiative to offer funding for research and technology development in the UK, to maintain and grow the UK's competitive position in civil aerospace.