Contract manufacturer Protolabs this month announced the addition of new metal 3D printing capabilities to its operations.
The Minneapolis-based company said the addition of secondary processes could improve the strength, accuracy and appearance of printed metal parts. Once parts are built using direct metal laser sintering technology, Protolabs said it now offers additional machining, tapping, reaming and heat treatments.
In addition, the company said quality control measures — including powder analysis, material traceability and process validation — and enhanced inspection reporting are available.
Protolabs officials said the additional processes can meet the complex needs of aerospace manufacturers and medical device makers, which are increasingly utilizing 3D printing. The company also said the new services move toward its goal of advancing additive manufacturing beyond prototyping and into production.
“These new production capabilities help them optimize their designs to enhance performance, reduce costs and consolidate supply chains — and do so much faster than ever before,” Greg Thompson, the company’s global product manager for 3D printing, said in a statement.
In addition to 3D printing, Protolabs offers CNC machining, sheet metal fabrication and injection molding processes.