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Travis Pike
When you hear the phrase 3D printing, you likely picture a machine printing plastic toys and gadgets for Etsy. What if we told you that 3D printed suppressors are now a reality?
This isn’t your cool uncle’s 3D printer. This revolutionary manufacturing style, known as additive manufacturing, uses a process called Direct Metal Laser Sintering. DMLS employs a high-powered laser to fuse metal powder into a single, cohesive, three-dimensional shape.
Traditionally, a suppressor uses subtractive manufacturing: a solid block of metal is cut and milled down to the final tube shape. DMLS flips this on its head by building the product up layer by layer. This allows manufacturers to design complex, weight-saving internal geometries that were previously impossible to achieve with standard machining, leading to extremely durable cans that offer excellent back pressure reduction and improved sound suppression.
SilencerCo has been at the forefront of this shift, leveraging DMLS to produce cutting-edge models. I sat down with an engineer at SilencerCo to get a better idea of what this technology brings to the suppressor world.
The DMLS Difference: Inside the Velos Line
SilencerCo’s additive manufacturing efforts are currently focused on the Velos family, which includes the Velos LBP 556, the 556K, and the new Velos LBP 762.
The ability to create complex internal geometry is the primary benefit DMLS offers to both producers and consumers. As the SilencerCo engineer explained: “We are able to produce different more complex geometry than you would be able to with simple subtractive manufacturing.”
While 3D printing does not inherently make a suppressor quieter, the process allows them to use superior geometry and material selection to create a more robust final product. The engineer affirmed that while 3D-printed cans are “not necessarily” quieter, they “can be more durable because of geometry and material selection.”
To successfully print a suppressor, the design geometry must be carefully tailored to the printing process itself. This requires rigorous initial design and prototyping, as several separate machined parts must be adapted to be printed as one consolidated unit. The equipment required for this is far beyond consumer-grade; the metal DMLS machines used are highly expensive—with some costing close to a million dollars—and “it takes qualified personnel to properly set up and run said metal 3D printers.”
Unmatched Durability with Inconel 625
The Velos LBP is a testament to this technology, featuring a 3D-printed Inconel 625 core that is fully welded to 17-4 stainless steel front and rear modules. This hybrid construction results in what SilencerCo calls its most durable suppressor ever, earning a full-auto rating and having no barrel length restrictions.
Inconel 625 is a nickel-chromium-based superalloy known for its exceptional strength, oxidation resistance, and corrosion resistance across temperatures ranging from cryogenic up to 1800°F (982°C).
The decision to use 3D printing with Inconel is strategic; the material is notoriously difficult to machine via traditional methods, making DMLS a more efficient path to creating complex internal structures out of this highly durable alloy.
Managing Blowback and Finalizing the Product
The Velos series is centered on its LBP (Low Back-Pressure) technology, which dramatically reduces overall blowback while maintaining impressive sound suppression. The complex, single-piece core design—made possible by the DMLS process—is critical to managing the gas discharge rate.
Once the printing process is complete, post-print work is still required. The engineer explained that the part “needs to be cut from the build plate and then from there it can be placed in a mill or lathe to do any further work if needed.”
When asked what surprised him most about the technology, the engineer noted, “How beneficial this manufacturing technology can and will be in the future.” While he doesn’t believe 3D printing will completely replace traditional manufacturing, he concluded that it will definitively remain an “additional tool in the tool box” for creating revolutionary designs.
Velos LBP Configurations
The Velos LBP line is compatible with SilencerCo’s Charlie accessory system and accommodates two main caliber groups:
- 5.56 Caliber: Velos LBP 5.56 and 5.56 K suppressors are dedicated for .223 REM / 5.56 NATO.
- 7.62 Caliber: Velos LBP 7.62 accommodates calibers up to .30 caliber.
Each model ships ready-to-use with essential mounting hardware, such as the Charlie ASR mount and an internal Charlie Flash Hider Front Cap.
Travis Pike
The post 3D Printed Suppressors: The Velos appeared first on SilencerCo.
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