Wolfmet 3D Printed Tungsten

Wolfmet 3D uses a high powered laser to fuse successive layers of pure tungsten powder until a complex component is built. It is perfect for the manufacture of high-precision components, including collimators and radiation shields in imaging systems, such as PET, CT, SPECT, MR and X-ray. Furthermore, using Wolfmet 3D allows components to be produced cost effectively in days rather than weeks.

We believe Wolfmet 3D is transforming what is possible in collimator and shielding design and our customers have been keen to test this proposition. In addition to standard grid collimators, we have been making complex bespoke designs that deliver better results for our customers.

Recent pre-clinical studies have shown that Wolfmet 3D printed tungsten collimators produce dramatically improved image quality.

SLM uses a laser beam that melts and fuses pure tungsten powder together. A thin layer of powder is deposited over a substrate plate and the laser beam melts and fuses the particles selectively. This operation is repeated and successive layers are built up until the part is complete. A number of process parameters have to be carefully tuned in order to fabricate a defect-free part. The most important process parameters include laser power, laser scan speed, hatch distance, layer thickness and scan strategy.

The team at Wolfmet have been successfully manufacturing components with complex geometries for a range of applications via Wolfmet 3D, their unique SLM process.