Partnership aims to advance surface finishing for AM

US-based REM Surface Engineering has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nikon Advanced Manufacturing Inc (Nikon AM) and Constellium to develop optimised surface finishing processes for Constellium’s Aheadd CP1 aluminium powder for AM by laser powder bed fusion.

Aheadd CP1 has garnered substantial interest from laser powder bed fusion technology users in the aerospace, defence, motorsport, semiconductor, and other industries due to its advantageous material properties, high level of printability, and simple, single-step heat treatment. As a leader in the additive manufacturing (AM) industry, Nikon AM recognised the potential of this novel aluminium alloy and has pursued its industrialisation to meet the needs of its growing customer base.

For many applications, the as-printed surface of Aheadd CP1 already delivers performance that meets customer expectations. For applications demanding the highest levels of fatigue life, fluid cleanliness, RF performance, and pressure-drop reduction, advanced surface finishing unlocks even greater potential. Much like Nikon AM, REM recognised the potential of Aheadd CP1 to impact and expand the AM marketplace.

As a leader in the development and commercialisation of tailored surface finishing solutions for metal AM applications, REM has partnered with Nikon AM and Constellium to develop optimised surface finishing processes for Aheadd CP1. In this effort, REM, Constellium, and Nikon AM will collaborate to develop optimised surface finishing processes (REM’s chemical polishing and chemical-mechanical polishing processes) for PBF-LB with Aheadd CP1. This collaboration is expected to advance the manufacturing process chain for Aheadd CP1 to provide faster, more cost-effective implementation for applications such as aerospace structural components, RF waveguides, and heat exchangers.

Immense potential
Justin Michaud, REM Surface Engineering’s CEO, said: “REM is honoured to partner with Nikon and Constellium to help actualise the immense potential of Aheadd CP1. Thanks to our extensive experience within the AM industry, REM is fortunate to have strong relationships with these global industry leaders, and we are excited about the potential that this programme will bring to the AM marketplace as a whole.”

Dr Behrang Poorganji, VP Technology, Nikon Advanced Manufacturing Inc, said: “At Nikon AM, we are excited to formalise this collaboration with Constellium and REM. Aheadd CP1 is a highly capable aluminium alloy offering high conductivity and solid processability and by pairing REM’s advanced surface finishing technologies with our large-format, production-ready L-PBF platforms, we aim to unlock its full application envelope, particularly in thermal management and structural components. Through this collaboration, we expect to accelerate the path toward fully optimised, production-ready solutions for defence and aerospace.”

Sylvain Henry, vice-president of R&D at Constellium, said: “Aheadd CP1 continues to demonstrate unique potential for next-generation structural and thermal components across multiple industries. Through this early-stage collaboration, we aim to explore advanced surface finishing pathways that could further extend the alloy’s capabilities for high-performance applications. We look forward to working with Nikon and REM as we collectively evaluate these promising process innovations.”