Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, one of the world's five largest manufacturers of optoelectronic products, announced the development of a precision metal 3D printing technology called dot forming direct energy deposition (DED). It is said that Mitsubishi will use this technology to increase the productivity of parts for the automotive and aerospace industries.
Mitsubishi combines DED with CNC and CAM technology, uses "spot forming" technology to focus the laser on the spots, and uses CAM to specify the points to form the path, which can prevent heat from diffusing around the object, making parts more accurate than other metal 3D printing processes %. In addition, the application of laser and heat to small areas also reduces oxidation by 20%.
The new 3D printing system is scheduled to be exhibited at the 29th Japan International Machine Tool Fair (JIMTOF2018) in Tokyo on November 1, and the DED system will be commercially released in 2021.
According to media reports, in 2017, Mitsubishi has cooperated with the Zhuhai Xiangzhou District Government and Zhuhai Abby Mold Design Co., Ltd. to launch a $ 7 million metal 3D printing project in South China. Recently, Mitsubishi Chemical acquired Dutch wire maker MCPP Netherlands and plans to exhibit various 3D printing materials for the first time at the formnext 2018 exhibition.