Quite a few stories, together with one from Reuters, point out that Apple is now testing steel binder jetting know-how for serial manufacturing of the case of the Apple Watch Collection 9, which is ready to be unveiled on Sept. 12. The tech large could be producing the instances in metal, because the aluminum materials it at present makes use of can’t be 3D printed utilizing binder jetting (because it can’t be proficiently sintered in a furnace). Some components can also be produced in titanium. There are a number of candidates that could possibly be offering the know-how. Let’s see who, what, when, how, and, maybe extra importantly, the place.

However let’s go so as.

A few months in the past we reported that Apple was additionally testing steel L-PBF know-how (which may course of aluminum) utilizing extra reasonably priced Chinese language-made methods and supplies, for varied precision elements of Apple Watch Extremely. The printer suppliers have been recognized as Farsoon and BLT. The elements may embrace the Digital Crown, Aspect Button, and Motion Button, as these are the one mechanical components of the ‌Apple Watch Extremely‌. These are the titanium components which are at present CNC machined. The change has the potential to enhance manufacturing time and scale back prices. Then once more Apple could also be L-PBF only for the aluminum elements.

With the watch instances, the stories point out that Apple is prepared to shift to utilizing metal and titanium (which may already be proficiently 3D printed and sintered by binder jetting). The metal case could be for the usual Apple Watch Collection 9 and the titanium case could be for the Extremely model which, nonetheless, goes to be launched in 2024.

Because the stories—which Apple spokespersons didn’t touch upon—point out that “Apple and its suppliers have been investing important assets into industrializing the method over the previous three years”, a number of speculations emerged as to which steel binder jetting firm could be offering the {hardware} know-how.

A number of potentialities exist, relying on whether or not the Apple Watches will likely be ultimately manufactured within the US or—as is the case now and is extra seemingly—in Asia, particularly in China or Vietnam. Apple could even contemplate testing completely different configurations to see which one is less expensive. If the Apple Watches have been to be manufactured within the US, the more than likely candidates could be HP or Desktop Metallic. Desktop Metallic, particularly through the X-Collection methods it affords by its acquisition of ExOne, has a extra consolidated know-how and will supply an excellent resolution for titanium instances (titanium is a tried and examined materials for X-Collection machines).

HP, however, has been focusing particularly on metal for its steel jet know-how. Contemplating that Desktop Metallic is at present concerned in a sophisticated merger dialogue with Stratasys, HP could possibly be seen as a extra dependable companion for the serial manufacturing of huge batches of components. The corporate has been growing a full manufacturing resolution and dealing with giant corporations within the automotive section (together with GKN and Volkswagen) so as to industrialize manufacturing functions. when it comes to geometry, the instances look like a comparatively simple half to 3D print and sinter.

If Apple goes to depend on its companions in Asia, the corporate could also be working with native steel binder jetting 3D printer producers. EasyMFG, a Chinese language 3D printer producer, demonstrated smartwatch casings 3D printed in titanium utilizing its binder jetting know-how (proven within the picture on the high of the web page). The corporate says it is ready to “create sturdy and sturdy titanium watch instances. The MBJ know-how supplies us with numerous design potentialities, permitting your watch instances to face out. With MBJ-printed titanium watch instances, you may get pleasure from high-end high quality and futuristic [designs]”.

One other very attention-grabbing chance may come from the present Apple manufacturing companion in Asia, Foxconn. The enormous contract manufacturing firm has been working with Spanish startup Triditive on growing a steel binder jetting know-how (which we noticed firsthand on the TCT present in Birmingham earlier this 12 months) since 2022. The mid-size steel binder jetting system, dubbed AMCELL Jet has been developed particularly to make use of a water-based binder for high-speed printing of steel components, with assist from the enormous Foxconn, that’s anticipated to be a serious adopter. Foxconn mentioned that it intends to make use of it for large-scale serial manufacturing of small and exact industrial elements. That just about describes an Apple Watch case.