Laser melting systems

Renishaw's laser melting

Renishaw's laser melting is an additive manufacturing technology that uses a high powered ytterbium fibre laser to fuse fine metallic powders together to form functional 3-dimensional parts.

The process is digitally driven, direct from sliced 3D CAD data, in layer thicknesses ranging from 20 to 100 microns that form a 2D cross section. The process then builds the part by distributing an even layer of metallic powder using a recoater, then fusing each layer in turn under a tightly controlled inert atmosphere. Once complete, the part is removed from the powder bed and undergoes heat treatment and finishing depending on the application.

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Typical applications for laser melting technology:

• functional testing of production quality prototypes
• manufacturing of organic or highly complex geometries
• low volume manufacturing of complex metal parts in specialist materials

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AM125		AM250		Software		Additive applications

Medical applications

Early adopters of laser melting in the medical orthopaedics sector saw benefits from the technology's ability to manufacture complex geometries and structures in high grade materials such as titanium. From patient specific hip implants to series volume production of orthopaedic implants featuring hybrid structures, laser melting has an established following in these sectors.

Industrial applications

From tooling inserts featuring conformal cooling channels through to lightweight structures for aerospace and high technology applications, laser melting significantly reduces the constraints on designers. This design freedom results in optimised structures and shapes that would otherwise be constrained by conventional processes or the tooling requirements of large volume production. Laser melting helps to reduce lead times, reduce tooling costs and permits the creation of designs not previously possible.