6K Additive, a provider of materials for AM, has been selected by America Makes, a US-based institution that aids in the collaboration of 3D printing, for its "Powder Alloy Development for Additive Manufacturing (PADAM)" project. 

The USD 6 million project, funded by the Air Force Research Laboratory, aims to improve the cost-efficiency and performance of niobium C-103 powder feedstock for laser powder bed fusion and directed energy deposition (DED) 3D printing processes. It also seeks to expand the supply base and utilize a broader particle size distribution range for C-103, a niobium alloy used in high-temperature applications. The project also involves collaboration with Castheon (project lead), NASA Glenn Research Center, NSL Analytical, Lockheed Martin, and Firefly Aerospace.

 The company will use its UniMelt microwave plasma process to produce C-103 powders from revert sources, reportedly increasing efficiency for high-temperature and space applications.

Analyst Quicktake: This news marks the second time that American Makes has selected the company to participate in one of its projects. Last month, the company partnered with RTX Technology Research Center and the University of Arizona as part of the EARTH project under America Makes and the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining to make aerospace and defense product manufacturing more sustainable.