Tulsa Company Makes 3D Printed Fuel Atomizer

John Zink Hamworthy Combustion in Tulsa has prototyped a new kind of 3D-printed fuel atomizer for tanker ships.

Metal 3D printing is not replacing, but only adding to what the company is already doing. They said 3D-printed fuel atomizer not only improves fuel efficiency but lowers costs as well.

Jason Harjo, the Design Manager said, “It’s definitely an option for the future.”

Designer Manager, Jason Harjo calls it another tool in their tool belt. The company started using 3-D printing about 10 years ago.

“We actually started printing plastic for production, that’s where we got our start in 3-D printing,” said Harjo.

And now it’s all about metal 3-D printing. Harjo said the material used for metal 3-D printing is cheaper because it’s only using the material needed to make, instead of wasting material in processing like machining.

Harjo said the 3D printed fuel atomizer is still in sea trial testing and is not being used in the market just yet.