Renishaw plc, U.K., introduces its AM250 laser melting additive manufacturing machine, which has an extended Z-axis option that enables building parts up to a height of 360 mm. It features a high-power ytterbium fiber laser that fuses fine metallic powders to form functional 3-D parts in layer thicknesses ranging from 20 to 100 µm. Vacuum chamber evacuation is followed by insertion of high-purity argon gas for reactive materials such as titanium.
The AM250 includes an external powder hopper with valve interlocks to allow additional material to be added while the process is running. It is possible to remove the hopper for cleaning or to exchange with a secondary hopper for materials change, using the universal lift. The powder overflow containers are outside the chamber and feature isolation valves so that unused materials can be sieved and reintroduced to the process via the hopper while the system is running. The safe change filter and system powder handling, via the glovebox, help to minimize user contact with materials and process emissions.
The AM250 has been designed with the manufacturing industry in mind, with a simple touch-screen user interface and robust construction. From series production of implantable devices to complex lattice structures or detailed aerospace geometries, the AM250 is capable of fulfilling the requirements of a manufacturing system.
All file and data preparation is done off-line in an office environment, and while the system can be a tightly controlled manufacturing cell, the file preparation software also features useful process development tools for high level users.
