May 6, 2016 | By Tess
Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics (WNLO) unveiled its large-scale selective laser melting 3D printer model, which is being presented as one of the world’s largest high-precision SLM 3D printers. In addition to the 3D printer’s unveiling, the company has also announced that its breakthrough machine has been certified by the Achievements Identification of Science and Technology Department of Hubei Province, where the company is based.
WNLO’s SLM 3D printer boasts an impressive build volume of up to 500mm x 500mm x 530mm, which is indeed an increase in volume over a number of other SLM 3D printer manufacturers. For instance, SLM Solutions’ SLM 500HL 3D printer has build volume of 500 x 280 x 325 mm, while German company Concept Laser’s X Line 1000 has one of 600 x 400 x 500mm. Only Concept Laser’s X Line 2000R, which boasts a build volume of 800 x 400 x 500mm, remains larger.
The innovative SLM 3D printer, which was designed by a team led by professor Zeng Yan of the Huazhong University of Science and Technology of WNLO, is based on a laser beam system that comprises of four 500W fiber lasers which are capable of simultaneously scanning the metal 3D printed part. To compare, most SLM 3D printer machines are based on a two fiber laser beam system.
Additionally, the metal 3D printer was designed to account for a number of issues that currently exist in the manufacturing of complex and high performance thin-walled precision parts, such as engine blades and other complex precision parts. As the company explains, the SLM 3D printer could help overcome multiple technical problems for complex aerospace precision metal parts, such as structure and function integration, weight loss, and other key technical problems through its capacity to create large scale high-precision metal parts, to improve molding efficiency, and to reduce equipment development cycles.
The SLM 3D printing system released by WNLO can accommodate a number of materials including titanium, stainless steel, high temperature alloys, aluminum, and magnesium alloy powders. Additionally, the printer is equipped with a double-sided layering technology which has increased the forming efficiency of the machine by 20-40% over other SLM 3D printer models.
Up until now, China’s SLM technology market has been dominated by foreign companies, but the release of WNLO’s innovative system will likely result in the growth of the national market. As a recent report by the IDC showed, though China’s 3D printer market is still largely dominated by foreign companies and brands, local companies and 3D printer developers are on the rise.
Posted in 3D Printer
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