MOSCOW, September 21. /TASS/. The Center for Additive Technologies (CAT) of the United Engine Corporation (UEC, part of Russia’s state tech corporation Rostec) has produced a batch of muzzle brake-flame suppressors for small arms for a customer using selective laser sintering with domestically produced titanium powder, Rostec reported.

"CAT specialists printed the entire batch of blanks on a single work platform in virtually a single day. Careful selection of materials and printing parameters made it possible to cut production time and reduce the final cost of each blank," the Rostec press service quoted CAT CEO Alexey Mazalov as saying.

The device is mounted on the barrel of a firearm and makes shooting more comfortable, accurate, and safe. The enclosed design suppresses the muzzle flash, reduces recoil, and protects the shooter’s hearing. The part consists of a monolithic body with internally molded partitions and angled openings. Each unit weighs no more than 300 grams, making it lighter than its traditional counterparts.

The device’s design was developed by the customer company specifically for additive manufacturing. The main technical challenge in manufacturing such parts stems from their complex internal geometry. During production preparation, CAT specialists determined in advance the part’s orientation, the placement of internal supports, and the parameters for forming the partitions and channels. This ensured the quality of the internal surfaces and eliminated the need for labor-intensive post-processing.

Drawing on their experience, the engineers manufactured the device as a single monolithic piece, without assembling separate components. After 3D printing, the part required minimal finishing and did not need complex operations to clean the internal channels and cavities. Rostec noted that 3D-printing technology made it possible to shorten the production time for a part with complex internal geometry and reduce its cost compared with traditional manufacturing methods.