LPW Technology (www.lpwtechnology.com), a specialist in metal powders and ‘end to end’ solutions for the additive manufacturing (AM) industry, is now working with Exactech, a provider of bone and joint restoration products.

Producing implants using AM requires confidence in the starting materials — the metal powders — as these must be free of contaminants and low in oxygen, to avoid variations in mechanical properties such as ductility, tensile strength and hardness.

Exactech (www.exac.com) turned to LPW to ensure that the titanium powders are within the same stringent specifications before each repeat build.

As metal powders are re-used they can pick up oxygen, and if not handled correctly, become contaminated. LPW provides a powder-testing service that uses sieve analysis to look at detailed morphology and chemical verification — plus oxygen and nitrogen determination — to identify any critical changes.

PowderSolve, along with the PowderTrace storage and transport hopper, are two LPW products designed to monitor and control powder condition.

Ron Green, Exactech’s senior director of manufacturing operations, said: “Using PowderSolve, the ability to know the material condition and track powder history through different blends, repeated uses and different batches, ensures full metal powder traceability.

"The assurance that this capability presents to a surgeon, delivering enhanced patient mobility through Exactech implants, cannot be underestimated.”