Quite a few studies, together with one from Reuters, point out that Apple is now testing steel binder jetting expertise for serial manufacturing of the case of the Apple Watch Collection 9, which is ready to be unveiled on Sept. 12. The tech large can be producing the instances in metal, for the reason that aluminum materials it at present makes use of can’t be 3D printed utilizing binder jetting (because it can’t be proficiently sintered in a furnace). Some elements might also be produced in titanium. There are a number of candidates that could possibly be offering the expertise. Let’s see who, what, when, how, and, maybe extra importantly, the place.
However let’s go so as.
A few months in the past we reported that Apple was additionally testing steel L-PBF expertise (which might course of aluminum) utilizing extra reasonably priced Chinese language-made programs and supplies, for varied precision parts of Apple Watch Extremely. The printer suppliers had been recognized as Farsoon and BLT. The parts may embody the Digital Crown, Facet Button, and Motion Button, as these are the one mechanical elements of the Apple Watch Extremely. These are the titanium elements which are at present CNC machined. The change has the potential to enhance manufacturing time and scale back prices. Then once more Apple could also be L-PBF only for the aluminum parts.
With the watch instances, the studies point out that Apple is keen to shift to utilizing metal and titanium (which might already be proficiently 3D printed and sintered by binder jetting). The metal case can be for the usual Apple Watch Collection 9 and the titanium case can be for the Extremely model which, nevertheless, goes to be launched in 2024.
Because the studies—which Apple spokespersons didn’t touch upon—point out that “Apple and its suppliers have been investing important assets into industrializing the method over the previous three years”, a number of speculations emerged as to which steel binder jetting firm can be offering the {hardware} expertise.
A number of potentialities exist, relying on whether or not the Apple Watches shall be finally manufactured within the US or—as is the case now and is extra probably—in Asia, particularly in China or Vietnam. Apple might even contemplate testing completely different configurations to see which one is more cost effective. If the Apple Watches had been to be manufactured within the US, the most probably candidates can be HP or Desktop Metallic. Desktop Metallic, particularly through the X-Collection programs it presents via its acquisition of ExOne, has a extra consolidated expertise and will provide a great resolution for titanium instances (titanium is a tried and examined materials for X-Collection machines).
HP, then again, has been focusing particularly on metal for its steel jet expertise. Contemplating that Desktop Metallic is at present concerned in a sophisticated merger dialogue with Stratasys, HP could possibly be seen as a extra dependable companion for the serial manufacturing of huge batches of elements. The corporate has been creating a full manufacturing resolution and dealing with giant firms within the automotive section (together with GKN and Volkswagen) with a view to industrialize manufacturing functions. by way of geometry, the instances look like a comparatively straightforward half to 3D print and sinter.
If Apple goes to depend on its companions in Asia, the corporate could also be working with native steel binder jetting 3D printer producers. EasyMFG, a Chinese language 3D printer producer, demonstrated smartwatch casings 3D printed in titanium utilizing its binder jetting expertise (proven within the picture on the high of the web page). The corporate says it is ready to “create sturdy and sturdy titanium watch instances. The MBJ expertise offers us with numerous design potentialities, permitting your watch instances to face out. With MBJ-printed titanium watch instances, you possibly can get pleasure from high-end high quality and futuristic [designs]”.
One other very attention-grabbing chance may come from the present Apple manufacturing companion in Asia, Foxconn. The large contract manufacturing firm has been working with Spanish startup Triditive on creating a steel binder jetting expertise (which we noticed firsthand on the TCT present in Birmingham earlier this 12 months) since 2022. The mid-size steel binder jetting system, dubbed AMCELL Jet has been developed particularly to make use of a water-based binder for high-speed printing of steel elements, with help from the large Foxconn, that’s anticipated to be a significant adopter. Foxconn stated that it intends to make use of it for large-scale serial manufacturing of small and exact industrial parts. That just about describes an Apple Watch case.
