Optomec Now Features Simultaneous 5-Axis Hybrid Metal Printing

Optomec featured its newest hybrid machine tool system with larger build volumes and higher power capabilities for high-quality metal additive and hybrid manufacturing at Formnext 2018 in mid-November in Frankfurt, Germany. The LENS 860 Hybrid Controlled Atmosphere (CA) System is the latest addition to the Machine Tool Series, which integrates Optomec’s LENS 3D metal printing technology with high-performance vertical machining platforms.

“The LENS 860 has unique capabilities and the right economics to make metal additive manufacturing more accessible for a wider range of industrial applications”, says Urs Berger the managing director of Optomec’s newly-announced headquarters for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) in Dübendorf, Switzerland.  

With an 860x600x610 mm work envelope, the LENS 860 Hybrid CA system offers a larger build volume than other systems in the Machine Tool Series and comes with a hermetically-sealed build chamber that maintains oxygen and moisture levels below 10 ppm for processing reactive metals, such as Titanium. It can be configured with closed loop controls and a high-power 3kW fiber laser, making the system ideal for building, repairing, coating and finishing mid- to large-size parts.

“With the LENS 860, customers can print and mill and perform finished machining on a printed part all on the same system without re-fixturing or aligning the component on a second machine,” says Optomec LENS product manager Tom Cobbs. “We think this will bring great benefits to companies looking to move to additive and hybrid manufacturing.”

All systems in the Machine Tool Series incorporate Optomec’s LENS 3D Metal Printing technology, which uses a high-power laser (400W to 3kW) to fuse powdered metals into fully dense, three-dimensional structures. The LENS Machine Tool Series has a starting price of under $250,000. The LENS 860 Hybrid CA system is able to print fine-features for thin wall structures and perform wide area cladding for wear coating applications. Optomec software enables five-axis build strategies that integrate additive and subtractive operations in a single tool path. A range of material starter recipes compliment the system and help speed adoption and success with the LENS 860 Hybrid Controlled Atmosphere System.

Sources: Press materials received from the company.

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