Seurat raises $21 million to boost metal lattice 3D printing technology

Guide:
Previously, an innovative metal3D printingTechnology company Seurat,
They have a unique 2 million laser point metal” area3D printing“Technology
, it can print an area of ​​15 square millimeters at a time, and the metal printing speed can be increased by 1,000 times.

The origins of Seurat can be traced back more than a decade ago to the United States
energy
Department of Defense (DoD) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), when mechanical engineer James DeMuth — co-founder and CEO of Seurat — was working on a fusion energy project , designing a reaction chamber that can withstand the extreme temperature fluctuations that occur when the laser produces energy.

To withstand the intense fatigue and temperatures of a fusion environment, Demus and his colleagues realized they needed special alloys that could not be welded but could be 3D printed. After much trial and error, they adopted a patterned light method already under development in the Livermore lab.By 2015, Demus and co-founder Eric Tumray had demonstrated that the technology also worked forMetal 3D Printing, and believe that it can exceed the traditional3D printing technology, although the traditional3D printing technologyHas matured and gained momentum, but still has drawbacks in terms of speed, quality, scale and cost. By January 2016, the two had obtained a technical license for their process from LLNL and had begun raising capital and commercializing the technology.

DeMuth explained: “Seurat’s mission is to make manufacturing better in every way, by harnessing the flexibility and design freedom of 3D printing, without overpaying.” Area Print separates resolution and speed , which is the secret that makes 3D printing a high-volume process. We’re working with the world’s largest manufacturers to port their designs to Area Print, helping them gain lead time, cost and quality advantages while having a positive impact on the environment.

Funding from the Series B expansion will be used to build Seurat’s production-grade system, which aims to produce parts at $300 per kilogram, comparable to parts produced by machining. By 2025, Seurat expects to reduce manufacturing costs to $150 per kilogram, similar to castings. However, as the company grows, its technology is expected to bring the $1 trillion metal fabrication market fully into additive manufacturing.

But that’s not all. Seurat’s Area Print technology is designed to decarbonize manufacturing, one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. By 2025, the company expects to replace 15 million tons (GT) of carbon dioxide, the equivalent of consuming 15 billion gallons of gasoline. It is expected to displace 2.5 million tonnes by 2030. To do this, Seurat’s strategy is not to sell by machine, but instead to qualify regionally printed parts through its Area Print Production (APP) program.

Once the parts are qualified, production will take place at a localized printing facility near the customer. After graduating from the APP project, the customer will have a replicable and repeatable part ready for mass production.So far, Seurat says it has partnered with seven of the world’s largest
car
,
aviation
aerospace
, energy and industrial companies have reached an agreement to start commercializing the technology this year.

This unprecedented approach will also help address the supply chain challenges that have emerged over the past two years due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. For example, over the past few weeks, top automakers such as Toyota and Volkswagen have temporarily closed their factories in China as the outbreak unfolded. Just like that, companies are scrambling to shift manufacturing processes, targeting in-house production, to overcome uncertainty about the future. Once commercialized, an option like Seurat’s technology could turn into an ideal solution, which may be why Porsche SE, General Motors, and other manufacturing leaders are investing in the technology.

There is no doubt that businesses need new solutions to reduce their carbon footprint and create more resilient supply chains. To advance global net zero goals and address supply chain challenges, its regional printing process, powered by 100% renewable energy, will help Companies are shifting manufacturing from castings and other traditional manufacturing methods to enabling high-volume production and reducing harmful environmental pollutants. However, as 3DPrint.com executive editor Joris Pierce said: “It is too early to say whether Seurat will successfully commercialize its technology.”

(responsible editor: admin)