A Conversation on 3D Printing with the CEO of Meltio
In January 2023, Spanish multinational Meltio, a wire-laser metal 3D printing technology manufacturer, together with Phillips Corporation, a global manufacturing solutions leader based in the US, worked together to install a metal 3D printing solution to manufacture spare parts and repair tools on onboard US Navy ship, the USS Bataan. The Phillips Additive Hybrid powered by Haas took the laser metal deposition technology of Meltio and integrated it with the Haas CNC vertical machining centers control mill onboard the ship. ASSEMBLY Audible met with the CEO of Meltio to discuss facets of Meltio's 3D printing technology and the collaborative Navy project.
The equipment, installed under a joint effort between the Commander, the Naval Surface Force Atlantic, and the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Technology Office, includes thePhillips Additive Hybrid system, which integrates a Meltio wire-laser metal deposition head on a Haas TM-1 computer numerical control mill. The Haas TM-1 platform has been proven to operate reliably in an afloat environment aboard several aircraft carriers. Integrating the Meltio deposition head with the Haas TM-1 provides both an additive and subtractive manufacturing capability within the same system – increasing efficiency and reducing waste when compared with typical machining.