Frequently asked questions

GENERAL INFORMATION

  • AMP provides on-demand contract manufacturing services specializing in metal 3D printing and CNC machining. We help customers transform designs into high-quality metal components, from R&D, prototyping, and low-volume production.

    AMP’s manufacturing capabilities includes 3D printing, heat treatment, CNC machining, metallography testing, powder morphology, wire EDM, destructive tensile testing, CMM inspection, and 3D scanning.

    Learn about our full suite of capabilities and services.

  • AMP supports projects beyond the initial manufacturing process, including design-for-manufacturability (DFM / DFAM) feedback, post-processing, finishing, and quality inspection, depending on project requirements. Learn more about our capabilities.

  • Yes. AMP is happy to review your existing component and evaluate opportunities to reduce manufacturing costs through design optimization, alternative materials, process selection, or part consolidation.

  • Yes. AMP can evaluate existing components and identify opportunities to redesign them for metal additive manufacturing. This may allow for weight reduction, improved functionality, internal features, or component consolidation.

  • Absolutely. AMP can accommodate this in a wide spectrum of ways.

    For example: a component can be 3D printed to achieve a complex shape and then CNC machined to meet tight tolerances on critical surfaces.

  • Yes. AMP works with customers at different stages of product development, from early-stage startups developing prototypes to established companies requiring ongoing manufacturing support.

  • AMP can evaluate replacement-part manufacturing opportunities using existing CAD files, engineering drawings, or suitable physical-part references. Feasibility depends on material requirements, design complexity, and applicable intellectual property considerations. 3D scanning may be used to reverse engineer a sample part to help guide manufacturing of the new components.

  • AMP is an LLC, classified as a Small Business. For the defense industry, AMP is considered a “non-traditional defense contractor” (NDC).

  • AMP’s core goal is to enable the acceleration of manufacturing technology development. This means AMP will aid its customers in finding ways to mature and scale their products and does NOT hold back manufacturing IP or ‘know how’. AMP will provide complete data packages and advice to customers, with the intent of aiding development of the technology. AMP is also willing to partner with other contract manufacturers at our customer’s direction. Learn more about our capabilities.

  • AMP is located in Austin, Texas.

  • Factory visits are available for customers, prospective customers, and other key partners. All visits must have an appointment. Please reach out to arrange a visit.

METAL 3D PRINTING

  • AMP prints using Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF), also known as Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) or Selective Laser Melting (SLM). Our machines are all multi-laser, and some are equipped with mode-switching lasers from nLIGHT.

  • AMP offers hundreds of available materials for metal and non-metal printing. Some commonly printed alloys include (but are not limited to):

    • Aluminum AlSi10Mg, CP1, F357, Scalmalloy

    • Stainless steel 316L, 17-4 PH

    • Titanium Ti-6Al-4V (Ti64)

    • Nickel Inconel 625, 718, 282, Hastelloy

    • Copper C18150, GRCOP-42, CuNi 30-70

  • AMP has the largest Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) metal 3D printer in North America, the EOS AMCM M8 k.

    The M8k  has a build envelope of 800mm X 800mm X 1200mm (31.5x31.5x47.2”).

    Parts up to 800mm X 800mm X 1200mm (31.5x31.5x47.2”) are printable at AMP.

  • Small simple features are often +/- 0.005”, but tolerance stack from surface roughness and part distortion may increase this significantly depending on the specific details of the part and process. Metal 3D printing can produce highly detailed components, but achievable tolerances depend on material, geometry, orientation, and process parameters.

    Critical dimensions can often be improved through secondary CNC machining. It is recommended to add approximately 0.040” additional material if a surface is planned to be CNC machined after printing.

  • As-printed (or “as-built”) surface roughness ranges from 120 to 500 Ra microinches, depending on the surface orientation and processing parameters. Additional processes such as bead blasting, polishing, machining, and other finishing operations can improve surface quality depending on your requirements.

  • Most metal 3D printed components require some level of post-processing no matter where they are made. This may include support removal, stress relief, heat treatment, machining, surface finishing, and dimensional inspection. Printed material from AMP has extremely high density right out of the printer, so no debinding or sintering processes are required.

  • Metal 3D printed parts can achieve excellent mechanical properties and may meet or exceed certain conventional manufacturing requirements. Similar to metal made with any other process (such as casting or forging), the final mechanical properties depend on the alloy and heat treatment used, for example.

DEPOWDERING, PART CLEANING, HEAT TREATMENT, AND CNC MACHINING

  • AMP uses automated powder removal machines to depowder printed components. Additionally, AMP has powerful ultrasonic submersion tanks for part cleaning. AMP can also use abrasive blasting to clean parts with a media such as glass bead or steel shot.

  • Yes, AMP has heat treatment capability in-house. This includes stress relief, solution anneal, and age hardening and can be done under inert argon environment.

  • AMP operates 5-axis CNC milling, and mill-turn machinery. This includes machinery capable of milling hard alloys exceeding 1200mm (47”) XYZ.

  • AMP can CNC machine most alloys. Here is a list of some common materials that AMP machines:

    • Aluminum (6061, 7075, AlSi10mg)

    • Stainless steel (304, 316L, 17-4 PH).

    • Titanium (Ti64 Grade 5, Grade 23)

    • Tool steels (M300, MS1, 1.2709)

    • Nickel-based superalloys (718, 625, 282)

  • Yes, AMP can WIRE EDM cuts up to 1000mm tall. AMP’s Wire EDM is ammung the largest available in North America, with working size of 1600x1200x1000mm. AMP uses High Speed Wire EDM technology (HSWEDM), also called Fast Wire EDM.

MATERIALS AND DESIGN REQUIREMENTS

  • Yes. You can submit your existing CAD files and technical drawings for review. Our AMP team will evaluate manufacturability and identify any potential design considerations before production.

  • Yes. Our team can review your designs and provide recommendations to improve manufacturability, reduce costs, optimize material usage, and improve overall part performance.

  • Yes, AMP specializes in working with new, custom, and difficult materials at any stage of development. AMP will consider projects to develop or test novel alloys, and work together to prove or industrialize the material.

    AMP has metallography, powder testing, and destructive testing in-house to help execute R&D quickly and cost effectively.

PRICING, QUOTING, AND CERTIFICATIONS

  • You can request a quote by submitting your 3D CAD files, engineering drawings, material requirements, desired quantities, and any special finishing or inspection requirements. Our team will review your project and provide a quotation. Please get in touch with us here to get the process started.

  • AMP does not have minimum order quantities.

  • AMP holds a current FFL and can work on serialized firearms products.

  • AMP has all required certifications in place to transfer and use ITAR, EAR, and CUI data.

QUALITY ASSURANCE AND INSPECTION

  • Quality assurance may include material verification, in-process inspections, dimensional measurements, visual inspections, and final quality checks. Inspection requirements are established according to the project's specifications.

    AMP offers in-house CMM measurement, 3D scanning, and bench inspection, with extremely high-resolution equipment for all types of dimensional inspection. Its blue-light 3D scanning technology can also reverse-engineer existing parts.

  • Material certifications and traceability documentation may be available depending on the material source and project requirements. Please specify any certification requirements when requesting a quote.

  • AMP can evaluate tight-tolerance requirements during the quoting process. Critical dimensions, geometric tolerances, and surface finish specifications should be clearly identified on your engineering drawings.

  • Inspection reports and dimensional documentation are provided as a default deliverable for any project, unless explicitly excluded from the quoted scope of work.

  • AMP can evaluate manufacturing and documentation requirements for applications in industries such as aerospace, automotive, medical devices, energy, and industrial equipment. Applicable standards and certifications should be discussed before production.

SHIPPING, CONFIDENTIALITY, AND SUPPORT

  • Shipping options depend on the project, destination, and applicable export requirements. Please provide your delivery location when requesting a quote.

  • We understand the importance of protecting customer designs and proprietary information and take it very seriously. Project files are handled through a secure file-sharing processes, with non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) available when required.

  • Yes. AMP typically provides a standard mutual 2-way NDA (MNDA) which can be quickly executed.