Fast or Fine Metal 3D Printing?
Our product partners, InssTek, are one of the innovators in 3D Metal Printing. The company’s Direct Metal Tooling (DMT) variation on the Direct Energy Deposition (DEP) process sets it apart from many.
With DMT, standard industrial metal powders in conjunction with closed loop feedback systems offer manufacturing and repair capabilities. This includes mixing metals within the same print to maximise quality and reduce production costs.
An InssTek 3D printer can be equipped with a variety of powder hoppers. Each of these hoppers can be individually controlled with a powder delivery accuracy of 0.1g/min. The closed loop feedback control mechanism ensures the meltpool is measured and optimised up to 100 times a second. The end result – an absolutely homogenous internal structure with maximum density.
Optic cartridge system
To join these innovations, InssTek is launching a cartridge system for the 3D printer’s optics. This will allow users to easily swap lenses and accessories to achieve different resolution characteristics.
The cartridge system will add flexibility to InssTek’s established reputation for precision optics. Currently, InssTek’s 3D printer users need to select a module for their optics. The choice is one of a small module for fine, complex geometry or a larger module better suited for larger volumes and higher speeds.
Best of both
InssTek has now redesigned its optics so that essential lens and accessories are mounted in a compact cartridge. These lenses are commercially available and are easily changed without any specific training by a machine operator. As a result, InssTek’s 3D printers are now even more price competitive and even easier to maintain.
The new cartridge system will not only allow different resolution characteristics with just one machine but will also allow more efficiency in cladding operation, improving performance yet further.
InssTek sees this new flexibility to be of particular interest in the area of materials research, especially in university and research labs where adaptability can be a major advantage.
For further information on InssTek’s new modular resolution cartridge system and details of the company’s range of both small and very large 3D metal printers, please contact sales@tlm-laser.com