Page 11 - RHP IT

DESIGN ENGINEERING

Additive manufacturing

3D PRINTING

THE LATEST LASER BASED TECHNOLOGY TO BECOME AVAILABLE
FROM TLM LASER IS THE NEW AL-3D METAL 200 ADDITIVE
MANUFACTURING SYSTEM. THIS INNOVATIVE SYSTEM BRINGS A
NEW DIMENSION TO METAL ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING THROUGH
THE USE OF A CARTRIDGE BASED CLOSED POWDER CIRCUIT.

he ability to manufacture high precision changing the material cartridge and then
components with impressive quality standards re-starting the printing process.
combined with unparalleled freedom, in terms of The AL3D-CARTRIDGE is an
Tdesign and geometry, are just a few of the reasons intelligent plug and play cartridge based
behind the rapid growth of 3D printing. The additive system which allows fast offline
manufacturing process also saves material and resources, preparation of materials, and the
by building a component layer by layer as opposed to cartridge containing the metal
having it machined from solid. powder is simply loaded and located
The new AL3D-METAL 200 3D printer encompasses within the system ready for use. At the
all of these properties and is characterised by its safe, end of the build process, the component
clean and economic and unused powder
powder handling concept. remain captive within the
The cartridge based cartridge which can then be
closed powder circuit transferred to a separate
enhances safe working unpacking station. The cartridge is technology is available from Bromsgrove based TLM Laser,
practices as the operator inserted and located within the Alpha Laser’s UK and Ireland distributors, and just part of
doesn’t come into contact AL3D-CABIN – the unpacking a comprehensive and growing range of laser based
with the powder at any station - in the same way as the technologies and systems offered by the company.
point throughout the 3D printer, allowing the operator MORE INFORMATION: www.tlm-laser.com
entire printing process. to retrieve the sintered component
Specially developed and capture the residual power is
for the precision a safe, ergonomic and efficient
mechanical, medical manner.
technology, dental and A 200 W CW, 1070nm Fibre
jewellery industries as laser is at the heart of the system
well as research and which delivers a 50 µm spot size,
development laboratories, this and the system can be used with a variety of metals
compact 3D printer offers optimum including: Iron alloys, Nickel-based alloys, Cobalt-
detail accuracy, precision and chrome alloys and Precious metals. Two variants of
maximum safety in handling both the system, the AL3D-METAL 200 -50 and AL3D-
the laser and the metal powder. A METAL 200 – 100 offer 50mm diameter x 50mm
further characteristic of this system high and 100mm diameter x 60mm high build
is the ability to produce layers of volumes respectively. The system also boasts a
different material within the same compact footprint of just 60cm x 60cm making it
component. This is achieved by ideally suited to any working environment.
stopping the print, According to Andy Toms,
director of TLM Laser:
“This system is highly
intuitive to use, you
simply select a
cartridge with the
desired material,
insert it into the printer,
select the desired print file from
the touch screen interface and start
the printing process.”
This new 3D metal printing

June 2021 • INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY 11