Metals 3D Printer Gets a Smaller Footprint

Usually, we’re telling you about bigger 3D printer build volumes, not smaller ones. But this is a bit different. Optomec has taken a highly sophisticated 3D printing process for metals and made it available in a smaller machine.

Engineers have been producing metal components, not just prototypes, for several years using Optomec’s version of selective laser sintering (SLS), which the company calls LENS (Laser Engineered Net Shaping). The components built have been relatively large, with a process work envelope of 900 mm x 1,500 mm x 900 mm (35.43 inch x 59.0 inch x 35.43 inch) for the company’s largest machine, the 850-R. That one deposits material such as standard steels, titanium, and nickel alloys at up to 500 g/hr (1.1 lb/hr).

Ann R. Thryft

Full Story: http://www.designnews.com/author.asp?section_id=1392&doc_id=264842&dfpPParams=ind_183,industry_aero,industry_gov,bid_27,aid_264842&dfpLayout=blog&dfpPParams=ind_183,industry_aero,industry_gov,bid_27,aid_264842&dfpLayout=blog&dfpPParams=ind_183,industry_aero,industry_gov,bid_27,aid_264842&dfpLayout=blog

(Many thanks to Al Jones for sharing this)