Concept Laser, a leading German innovator in the field of laser melting with the patented LaserCUSING® technology, has commercialized its Series model X line 1000R industrial 3D printing platform. The machine enables new applications for large components and quick construction rates that are securing some serious interest from the automotive and aerospace industries.
The large-format X line 1000R system was developed jointly with the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology in Aachen and is proving to be a step in the right development direction with more details emerging. The Model X 1000R has a large build envelope — 630 mm in the X axis, 400 mm in the Y axis and 500 mm in the all important Z axis. This ensures a total build volume of 125 liters making it the largest of its kind in the world for processing metal and capable of building a standard V6 engine. Simply put, these specifications create significantly greater productivity when compared with other commercially available laser melting systems.
It can handle and manufacture parts in a variety of metals materials, including stainless steel, hot work tool steels, reactive powder materials such as aluminium and titanium alloys and precious metals such as gold or silver alloys.
Two of the biggest and immediate beneficiaries of this new metal 3D printing behemoth are the automotive and aerospace industries. Light weight aluminium alloys are currently popular among automotive industry users whose goal is to replace cost-intensive sand and die casting processes. Additive manufacturing makes it possible to create lightweight structures with high rigidity and weight-optimized geometries.
It is evident that the capabilities of 3D printing hardware continue to evolve and they will continue to penetrate industry with ever greater impact in the coming years.
