Desktop-level metal 3D printers have always been a major direction of 3D printing technology research and development, which means that the cost of metal 3D printing has been reduced.
On January 8, 2019, Antarctic Bear learned from foreign media that Additec launched a desktop-grade metal 3D printer called μPrinter. This device can use metal powder material and metal wire at the same time. Metal wire is more affordable and safer to use. Additec's patented LMD-WP (Laser Metal Deposition Line Powder) process is a direct energy deposition (DED) process. When a metal powder stream is sprayed onto the part surface, a powerful laser melts it, repeating it layer by layer print.
The Additec μPrinter is equipped with three 200-watt diode lasers that focus the beam to form a molten pool; five lasers are also available, with an upgraded configuration of 1,000 watts of power. The wire is fed through a center guide, and the metal powder is sprayed through the annular gap nozzle around the wire guide, and different raw materials can be switched during printing without having to replace the nozzle. Metal wire deposition is not common, so Additec has created its own control system that can actively monitor layer heights and dynamically adjust parameters to maintain dimensions.
In addition to creating metal components from scratch, the system can also be used for part repair. In addition, μPrinter has multiple functions, such as an internal camera for web-based monitoring, a water-cooled system for cooling lasers, an integrated wire cutter, and an inert construction chamber filled with argon that can be safely discharged. Its build volume is 120x160x450mm.
Metal 3D print after processing
Although this machine is a desktop, it is not cheap, and the starting price before shipping, excluding shipping, is $ 90,000 (about 620,000 yuan). Unfortunately, it is not yet possible to include all the necessary features to make metal 3D printers operate safely and make it affordable for manufacturers. Over time, costs will decrease, but not as fast as plastic 3D printers. Like glass 3D printing, metal 3D printing requires a strictly controlled environment, but this environment cannot be produced cheaply.