As a leader in additive manufacturing, Burloak understands the importance of innovation. This has enabled us to push boundaries and achieve great things, like becoming one of the only additive manufacturing companies in North America capable of 3D printing tungsten for production applications. 

Tungsten’s hardness and extremely high melting point (6192 degrees Fahrenheit) makes it very difficult to manufacture conventionally. However, with its unrivaled properties, it is the ideal material for creating a range of unique applications, including cathodes, radiation shielding, counterweights, projectiles and other aerospace and defense applications.

“Developing the process to 3D print a new alloy can be very challenging and time-consuming,” says Keyvan Hosseinkhani, Burloak’s Technical Director. “Our expert team utilizes our in-house 3D printing, heat treatment and material testing capabilities to overcome these challenges and offer new solutions to our customers.”

The development of our tungsten printing process was funded by the Downsview Aerospace & Innovation Research (DAIR) Green Fund, which provides financial support for collaborative research and development projects that can significantly impact sustainability in the aerospace industry. The DAIR Green Fund project is supported by the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).

“3D printing is a key manufacturing technology that is part of the aerospace industry’s push towards improved sustainability,” says Steven Cargnello, DAIR Green Fund Manager. “If we can expand on the types of materials that can be 3D printed, this will enable more companies to leverage the technology to reduce their environmental footprint and ultimately help them achieve their sustainability goals.”

In traditional manufacturing, components are often created by removing raw material from a block of metal, while additive manufacturing uses metal powder to build 3D components, layer by layer, meaning only the necessary material is used to create the part.

Additive manufacturing also offers the ability to print a part at near net shape, eliminating, or significantly reducing, the amount of post-processing needed, without compromising strength. By 3D printing tungsten, instead of using traditional methods, companies can reduce waste, lower costs and improve performance.

Burloak uses its additive manufacturing capabilities to support some of the largest companies in the world, in sectors like space, aviation, defense and energy. Guided by an AS9100/ISO 9001 quality management system, with NADCAP certification for heat treatment post-processing, Burloak is one of the largest and most trusted 3D printing contract manufacturers in North America.