A QUICK TRIP TO DETROIT AND A GLIMPSE OF ADDITIVE’S NEXT CHAPTER
Thomas Schultz, our Sales Manager, returned from attending RAPID + TCT in Detroit earlier this month with valuable insights into how additive-manufacturing trends mesh with L&L’s heat-treating solutions. The show floor was alive with an incredible range of 3D printed aluminum, titanium, and composite parts- from aerospace fuel line reducers and full scale automotive subframes to intricate orthopedic implants.
“The ingenuity on display was inspiring” Thomas said. “But every engineer I spoke with shared a common challenge: once the part leaves the printer, getting it to final strength and repeatable quality is all about precise heat treatment—and that’s where L&L shines.”
Why Heat Treatment Is the Critical Last Mile for Additive Manufacturing
Additive manufacturing produces near net shape parts layer by layer, but the microstructure is far from finished when the build plate cools. Post processing in a controlled furnace delivers:
- Stress relief after rapid thermal cycles in the printer
- Age hardening & solution treatment of aluminum alloys
- Alpha beta phase control in titanium for high strength/low weight parts
- Binder burnout & debinding for composite and metal polymer hybrids
- Dimensional stability & repeatability essential for certification
Skipping or short cutting these steps can leave residual stresses, unpredictable mechanical properties, and ultimately rejected parts.
L&L Furnaces: Excellent Fit for Additive Materials
Our box, tube, and atmosphere furnaces are designed for the tight temperature uniformity and rapid quench options demanded by additive metals.
| Material | Typical Cycle | Popular Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum (AlSi10Mg, 6061) |
510C 🠺 quench 🠺 160C | VB Series Bench-mountable or ADC Series Dual-chamber and QT Series Quench Tank |
| Titanium (Ti 6Al 4V) |
800-950C stress relief or 940-970C beta anneal | FB Series or FN Series large, high volume inert atmosphere furnace |
| Continuous fiber composites | 300-1000C debind & cure | XLE Series or XLC Series atmosphere controlled retort furnace |
All L&L equipment can be AMS-2750 and AMS-2770 compliant, is built and assembled in Pennsylvania, and is backed by our two year structural warranty plus responsive lifetime support.
Already in Production Across Key Sectors
Aerospace: Fuel reducers, couplings, engine brackets, and wear resistant coatings benefit from our uniformity certifications and optional inert atmospheres.
Automotive: Lightweight brackets, cooling channels, EV drivetrain housings—virtually every additive component on display can reach production hardness and fatigue life in an L&L furnace.
Medical: Patient specific implants and surgical instruments demand biocompatible finishes and tight tolerances—achieved through our clean, tightly controlled heat treat cycles.
Bring Heat Treatment In House, Gain Speed & Control
- Cut turnaround times from weeks to days
- Fine tune cycles for ever evolving additive alloys
- Protect proprietary designs and data integrity
- Scale economically as print volumes grow
Our team can specify a right sized furnace, from a benchtop unit for R&D labs to large fiber lined box furnaces for full scale production.
Let’s Talk About Your Additive Heat Treat Needs
Whether you’re printing prototypes or shipping certified parts, heat treatment is the performance gatekeeper. L&L Special Furnace delivers the precision, reliability, and safety that additive manufacturers demand.
Contact us today or request a quote online to see how we can help.