Aiming to remove workflow bottlenecks and improve visibility into every layer of production, Metal 3D printer manufacturer Nikon SLM Solutions has introduced SLM.Prep, a unified data-preparation platform designed for the demands of modern multi-laser metal AM.
The system is the culmination of several years of development and incorporates feedback from users working directly with Nikon SLM equipment. Its purpose is to enhance clarity, precision, and control during the earliest stages of manufacturing. By consolidating capabilities that previously required multiple separate programs, SLM.Prep enables faster workflows, dependable build-time predictions, and complete slice-level visibility well before printing begins.
The software is now available globally for all Nikon SLM Solutions machine owners and is expected to expand with customer-driven updates over time.
Deep Visibility for Multi-Laser Processing
One of the core features of SLM.Prep is its laser-spot modeling environment, which mirrors the behavior of Nikon SLM’s scanning technology. Users can inspect every scan vector on every layer, gaining a detailed preview of the print path long before the build starts. Nikon SLM highlights that these capabilities are particularly advantageous for high-throughput platforms such as the NXG family.
The software offers real-time visualization of simultaneous laser activity, supports multiple optic-allocation strategies based on performance goals, and automatically recalculates projected build times when parameters change. These tools are intended to shorten qualification cycles and strengthen user confidence when planning complex, multi-laser production.
SLM.Prep builds directly on Nikon’s broader push into industrial-scale additive manufacturing. In an interview, Hamid Zarringhalam, CEO of Nikon Advanced Manufacturing, describes AM as a natural extension of Nikon’s industrial lineage. “Our machines are some of the most sophisticated systems in the world. At the heart of that technology is the integration of leading-edge optics, precision equipment, extreme metrology and even material characterisation.”
Zarringhalam stressed that Nikon SLM Solutions has shipped roughly 1,100 laser powder bed fusion machines worldwide, including 80 large-format NXG systems, most of which operate as full production fleets across defense, aerospace, automotive, and energy sectors.
Industry Feedback
Early-access users report significant improvements to their operational workflows. AMEXCI’s Head of Engineering Srikanth Purli noted, “SLM.Prep clearly enhanced our data prep workflow. It is encouraging to see the software’s trajectory and we look forward to further leveraging its full potential.”
A similar perspective was shared by US-based additive manufacturing center of excellence GKN Aerospace. “SLM.Prep is a very user-friendly and interactive software, especially when it comes to working with laser sequencing for NXG machines,”said Martin Thordén, VP GKN Aerospace Engines.
Nikon SLM leadership also underscores the platform’s role in deepening process understanding. “SLM.Prep brings a new level of transparency and confidence to additive manufacturing,” said Simon Merkt-Schippers, Executive Vice President Product Management, Nikon SLM Solutions. “By giving customers a clear, visual understanding of how each laser interacts during production, we’re helping them move faster from design to qualification — unlocking real productivity gains and reducing time to part.”
Expanding Monitoring and Multi-Laser Control in AM
The launch of SLM.Prep comes as the metal AM sector shifts toward fully monitored, production-scale environments where software and process visibility are as critical as machine hardware.
Last year, Nikon SLM Solutions teamed up with Additive Assurance, an Australian specialist in in-situ quality monitoring, to bring the AMiRIS Inside system to Nikon’s NXG metal printing platform. The partnership introduces the first near-infrared optical tomography solution capable of tracking all 12 lasers at once inside a production-scale machine.
By embedding AMiRIS Inside directly into the system, manufacturers gain live insight into the full build envelope, supporting greater process control, consistency, and reliability when producing large metal components.
Elsewhere, Hybrid Manufacturing Technologies’ AMBIT Xtrude demonstration at Trident Warrior 2025 showcased the growing focus on hybridized, field-ready systems, while Aalen University’s research on high-precision monitoring underscores advances in optical sensing for process reliability. Likewise, Farsoon’s upgraded FS350M platform illustrates how multi-laser architectures are becoming central to next-generation metal AM platforms.
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Featured image shows Nikon 3D Printing. Photo via Nikon
