{"id":166859,"date":"2024-06-07T10:46:11","date_gmt":"2024-06-07T02:46:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/?post_type=kb&p=166859"},"modified":"2024-06-07T11:03:13","modified_gmt":"2024-06-07T03:03:13","slug":"3d-printing-tungsten-a-new-era-for-complex-high-temperature-parts","status":"publish","type":"kb","link":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/3d-printing-tungsten-a-new-era-for-complex-high-temperature-parts","title":{"rendered":"3D Printing Tungsten: A New Era for Complex High-Temperature Parts"},"content":{"rendered":"

A recent breakthrough at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has caused a stir in the additive manufacturing (AM) community.<\/span> Researchers there have successfully 3D printed the first batch of tungsten parts with complex geometries and,<\/span> they say,<\/span> no defects.<\/span> This achievement is a major step forward for the development of clean energy technologies like nuclear fusion reactors.<\/span><\/p>\n

FacFox is a leading provider of metal 3D printing services,<\/span> including tungsten.<\/span> In this article,<\/span> we will explore the challenges and opportunities of 3D printing tungsten.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why is 3D Printing Tungsten a Challenge?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Tungsten is prized for its incredibly high melting point,<\/span> making it ideal for parts that will be exposed to extreme heat.<\/span> However,<\/span> this same property also makes it difficult to work with using traditional manufacturing methods.<\/span> Tungsten is brittle at room temperature,<\/span> and conventional techniques can struggle to produce complex shapes without introducing cracks or imperfections.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
Defect-free Tungsten samples from ORNL. Photo credit: ORNL<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

New Techniques for Promising Results<\/strong><\/h3>\n

ORNL’s success hinges on their use of electron beam powder bed fusion (EB-PBF) additive manufacturing.<\/span> This technique uses a high-powered electron beam to melt tungsten powder layer by layer in a vacuum,<\/span> minimizing impurities and residual stress.<\/span> The result is complex tungsten parts with the potential to be defect-free.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
ORNL\u2019s 3D printed fuel assembly brackets. Photo credit: ORNL<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Applications for 3D Printed Tungsten<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The ability to 3D print complex tungsten parts opens doors for a variety of applications:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  • Medical and Nuclear Industries:<\/strong> Tungsten’s ability to shield radiation makes it ideal for medical equipment and nuclear power plants.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Ultra-High Temperature Environments:<\/strong> Parts for machines like nuclear fusion reactors can benefit from tungsten’s ability to withstand extreme heat.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Electrical and Mechanical Systems:<\/strong> Tungsten’s properties make it valuable for electrical contacts and high-density counterweights.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Aerospace:<\/strong> Tungsten’s heat resistance makes it useful for components like nozzles and heat shields.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Machining:<\/strong> Tungsten carbide tools can be 3D printed for cutting and shaping other hard materials.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
    \"\"
    3D printed Tungsten steel tip. Photo credit: BLT<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    The Future of 3D Printed Tungsten<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    ORNL’s breakthrough paves the way for wider adoption of 3D-printed tungsten in various industries.<\/span> With its potential to revolutionize clean energy and other fields,<\/span> 3D printed tungsten is definitely a technology to watch.<\/span><\/p>\n

    FacFox: Your Partner in Metal 3D Printing<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    While FacFox doesn’t currently offer 3D printing for tungsten specifically, we are on the cutting edge of metal 3D printing technology. We offer a wide range of materials and can help you find the perfect solution for your project. If you’re interested in learning more about 3D printing for complex, high-temperature parts, contact FacFox via info@facfox.com today.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    A recent breakthrough at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has caused a stir in the additive manufacturing (AM) community. Researchers there have successfully 3D printed the first batch of tungsten parts with complex geometries and, they say, no defects. This achievement is a major step forward for the development of clean energy technologies like […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"kbtopic":[45],"kbtag":[126,175,413],"class_list":["post-166859","kb","type-kb","status-publish","hentry","kbtopic-tech","kbtag-3d-printing","kbtag-metal","kbtag-tungsten"],"yoast_head":"\n3D Printing Tungsten for Complex High-Temperature Parts<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"3D printing tungsten has traditionally been difficult, but a new breakthrough paves the way for complex, high-temperature parts.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/3d-printing-tungsten-a-new-era-for-complex-high-temperature-parts\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"3D Printing Tungsten: A New Era for Complex High-Temperature Parts\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"3D printing tungsten has traditionally been difficult, but a new breakthrough paves the way for complex, high-temperature parts.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/3d-printing-tungsten-a-new-era-for-complex-high-temperature-parts\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"FacFox Docs\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/facebook.com\/facfox3d\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-06-07T03:03:13+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Defect-free-Tungsten-samples-from-ORNL_FacFox.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@facfox3d\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/3d-printing-tungsten-a-new-era-for-complex-high-temperature-parts\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/3d-printing-tungsten-a-new-era-for-complex-high-temperature-parts\",\"name\":\"3D Printing Tungsten for Complex High-Temperature Parts\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/3d-printing-tungsten-a-new-era-for-complex-high-temperature-parts#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/3d-printing-tungsten-a-new-era-for-complex-high-temperature-parts#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Defect-free-Tungsten-samples-from-ORNL_FacFox.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-06-07T02:46:11+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-06-07T03:03:13+00:00\",\"description\":\"3D printing tungsten has traditionally been difficult, but a new breakthrough paves the way for complex, high-temperature parts.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/3d-printing-tungsten-a-new-era-for-complex-high-temperature-parts#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/3d-printing-tungsten-a-new-era-for-complex-high-temperature-parts\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/3d-printing-tungsten-a-new-era-for-complex-high-temperature-parts#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Defect-free-Tungsten-samples-from-ORNL_FacFox.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Defect-free-Tungsten-samples-from-ORNL_FacFox.jpg\",\"width\":800,\"height\":600},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/3d-printing-tungsten-a-new-era-for-complex-high-temperature-parts#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"3D Printing Tungsten: A New Era for Complex High-Temperature Parts\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/\",\"name\":\"FacFox Docs\",\"description\":\"Knowledgebase of manufacturing\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/#organization\",\"name\":\"FACFOX,INC.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/foxdoc-favicon.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/foxdoc-favicon.png\",\"width\":132,\"height\":133,\"caption\":\"FACFOX,INC.\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/facebook.com\/facfox3d\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/facfox3d\",\"https:\/\/instagram.com\/facfox3d\"]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"3D Printing Tungsten for Complex High-Temperature Parts","description":"3D printing tungsten has traditionally been difficult, but a new breakthrough paves the way for complex, high-temperature parts.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/3d-printing-tungsten-a-new-era-for-complex-high-temperature-parts","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"3D Printing Tungsten: A New Era for Complex High-Temperature Parts","og_description":"3D printing tungsten has traditionally been difficult, but a new breakthrough paves the way for complex, high-temperature parts.","og_url":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/3d-printing-tungsten-a-new-era-for-complex-high-temperature-parts","og_site_name":"FacFox Docs","article_publisher":"https:\/\/facebook.com\/facfox3d","article_modified_time":"2024-06-07T03:03:13+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Defect-free-Tungsten-samples-from-ORNL_FacFox.jpg","type":"","width":"","height":""}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_site":"@facfox3d","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/3d-printing-tungsten-a-new-era-for-complex-high-temperature-parts","url":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/3d-printing-tungsten-a-new-era-for-complex-high-temperature-parts","name":"3D Printing Tungsten for Complex High-Temperature Parts","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/3d-printing-tungsten-a-new-era-for-complex-high-temperature-parts#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/3d-printing-tungsten-a-new-era-for-complex-high-temperature-parts#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Defect-free-Tungsten-samples-from-ORNL_FacFox.jpg","datePublished":"2024-06-07T02:46:11+00:00","dateModified":"2024-06-07T03:03:13+00:00","description":"3D printing tungsten has traditionally been difficult, but a new breakthrough paves the way for complex, high-temperature parts.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/3d-printing-tungsten-a-new-era-for-complex-high-temperature-parts#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/3d-printing-tungsten-a-new-era-for-complex-high-temperature-parts"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/3d-printing-tungsten-a-new-era-for-complex-high-temperature-parts#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Defect-free-Tungsten-samples-from-ORNL_FacFox.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Defect-free-Tungsten-samples-from-ORNL_FacFox.jpg","width":800,"height":600},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/3d-printing-tungsten-a-new-era-for-complex-high-temperature-parts#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"3D Printing Tungsten: A New Era for Complex High-Temperature Parts"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/#website","url":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/","name":"FacFox Docs","description":"Knowledgebase of manufacturing","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/#organization","name":"FACFOX,INC.","url":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/foxdoc-favicon.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/foxdoc-favicon.png","width":132,"height":133,"caption":"FACFOX,INC."},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/facebook.com\/facfox3d","https:\/\/x.com\/facfox3d","https:\/\/instagram.com\/facfox3d"]}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/kb\/166859","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/kb"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/kb"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=166859"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/kb\/166859\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":166863,"href":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/kb\/166859\/revisions\/166863"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=166859"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"kbtopic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/kbtopic?post=166859"},{"taxonomy":"kbtag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/kbtag?post=166859"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}