Elementum 3D has been selected by AFWERX, the innovation arm of the Department of the Air Force (DAF), for a SBIR Phase I contract in the amount of $74,994 focused on Permeable Additive (PermiAM) technology to address the most pressing DAF challenges.

Elementum 3D is excited to start its journey to create and provide innovative capabilities that will strengthen the national defense of the United States of America. The PermiAM technology enables design simplification and cost savings by combining regions of controlled permeability with fully dense structures.

Elementum 3D has a history with AFWERX, in September 2020, the company was honored to be invited to participate in the AFWERX’s “Base of the Future” challenge. We entered our A6061-RAM2 material and was selected to move beyond the first phase of the challenge.

The Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX offer the Open Topic Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program to expand the range of innovations. The mission of AFWERX is to connect diverse, innovative members from industry, academia, and government to create capabilities and prototype opportunities for the U.S. Air Force. 

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Elementum 3D’s first steps into 2025 have directly benefited from the momentum built throughout 2024. Last year saw substantial progress on many initiatives and company-wide achievements in support of our customer’s additive manufacturing (AM) goals and we are privileged to work with forward thinking pioneers in their pursuit to apply AM technology to optimize their products and applications.  

Of all the amazing accomplishments in 2024, the commercial release and shipment of GRX-810 superalloy on October 31, is at the top of our list. 3D Printing Industry (3DPI), a 3D printing global media company, concurs (December 31, 2024 article).  

GRX-810 is 3D printable nickel cobalt chromium oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) superalloy, first developed by Dr. Tim Smith and team at NASA Glenn Research Center. This remarkable alloy is capable of enduring temperatures over 2,000°F with excellent oxidation resistance and compared to other available printable superalloys at this temperature, it is twice as strong and 1000 times as creep resistant. 

Other 2024 breakthroughs and highlights include: 

• Achieved AS9100D certification 
• Initial low cycle fatigue (LCF) results at room temperature for an in development high operating temperature (HOT) copper alloy showed 2.5 to 3 times the fatigue life of NASA's GRCop-42. 
• A7050-RAM2 product is registered with the Aluminum Association as 7A50.50, joining our A6061-RAM2 (6A61.50) product. 
• America Makes awarded Elementum 3D cost reimbursement of up to $2,875,000 to generate an MMPDS C/D-basis dataset for printed high-strength A7050-RAM2 aluminum material. 
• PermiAM patent granted with our partner Astrobotic. 
• New controlled printer room at S. Main Street facility is fully operational. 

Elementum 3D is thankful for each member of Team E3D for their superior work and dedication to excellence in 2024 – it’s an honor to work with you all.