Renishaw helps with cost effective 3D printing of the world ’ s most expensive metal
TOOLS , PLANT & EQUIPMENT PLATINUM RHODIUM 3D PRINTING
RENISHAW
Renishaw helps with cost effective 3D printing of the world ’ s most expensive metal
Renishaw has enabled Cookson Industrial , a UK-based leader in precious metal additive manufacturing ( AM ), to significantly reduce the cost of 3D printing platinum rhodium , one of the world ’ s most expensive metals . Cookson Industrial can now produce platinum rhodium components on Renishaw ’ s RenAM 500S Flex AM system with exceptional material efficiency . High-temperature corrosion-resistant parts , for industries like glass fibre manufacturing , can now be viably manufactured with AM .
Cookson Industrial , a division of Cooksongold and a subsidiary of HM Precious Metals , brings over 30 years of expertise in the design and production of precious metal alloys . The company set out to redefine platinum rhodium ’ s use in additive manufacturing . However , with platinum rhodium prices averaging £ 80,000 per kilo , minimising material waste was crucial to making production commercially viable .
To meet this challenge , Cookson Industrial selected Renishaw ’ s RenAM 500S Flex , a laser powder bed fusion system designed for research and development applications . Renishaw ’ s AM engineering team worked closely with Cookson Industrial to adapt the system to the specific demands of platinum rhodium production .
As standard , the RenAM 500S Flex is capable of achieving powder waste levels as low as 1.5 per cent . However , to align with Cookson Industrial ’ s requirements , customisations were needed to reduce it to less than 0.5 percen
“ Achieving near-zero wastage of platinum rhodium powder was a top priority ,” said Jason Morgan , Senior Applications Engineer at Renishaw .
“ We collaborated with Cookson ’ s engineers to identify and eliminate potential ‘ powder traps ’ within the system , followed by rapid testing and redesigns to minimise waste while maintaining performance .”
Renishaw ’ s customisations included modifying internal system components to prevent powder accumulation , such as removing overflow bellows and optimising the rear overflow vent . Additional measures included chamber redesigns and the creation of specialised casings and covers , resulting in a 95 percent reduction in powder waste . Now , the RenAM 500S Flex allows Cookson Industrial to retrieve nearly all platinum rhodium powder , amounting to significant cost savings .
“ Renishaw ’ s technology and expertise were crucial to this R & D success , enabling us to make platinum rhodium parts on a commercial scale ,” commented Nikesh Patel , Head of Cookson Industrial . “ The ability to minimise powder loss not only brings down our production costs but also makes large-scale production feasible , saving millions over the machine ’ s lifetime .”
“ This success paves the way for Cookson Industrial to explore new applications for platinum rhodium AM , including catalysts and aerospace engine nozzles ,” Renishaw ’ s Morgan added , “ Our collaboration with Cookson Industrial highlights Renishaw ’ s commitment to supporting customers in every step of their AM journey , especially when working with novel materials .”
For further information on Renishaw ’ s RenAM 500 Flex AM system , visit the product page .
For further information please visit www . renishaw . com
114 PECM Issue 72