On May 9, 2023, German-based machine tool manufacturer DMG Mori launched a new metal powder bed fusion (PBF) 3D printer, the LASERTEC 30 SLM US. Not only does the new equipment improve on the company's existing PBF production line, but it will also be manufactured in the United States.
△During RPAID+TCT 2023, DMG exhibited its latest 3D printer LASERTEC 30 SLM US
Specifically, DMG’s new LASERTEC 30 SLM US 3D printer is designed to reduce the cost per part and is scheduled to start shipping in December 2023. Rather than simply adding more lasers to the machine, the company has introduced improved features such as adaptive beam steering, allowing the power, speed and beam profile of the 1.2 kW laser to be changed dynamically to improve quality and overall throughput. The spot size can be changed on the fly within the range of 80-240 μm.
Additionally, the machine boasts an 11.8 x 11.8 x 11.8-inch build space, as well as touchless recoating, optimized airflow, and a long filter lamp that lasts up to 1,500 hours. All in all, the new equipment is being developed to achieve what the company calls "optimum cost or productivity," a metric invented by DMG to increase productivity and reduce costs.
△LASERTEC 30 DUAL SLM 3D printer released by DMG earlier
The company is one of the world's largest machinery manufacturers with a strong German and Japanese background. Its additive manufacturing offerings include directed energy deposition (DED) printers, and the metal powder sintering (PBF) technology of Realizer, which it acquired in 2017. Now, the company's additive manufacturing product line has been further strengthened with the launch of the LASERTEC 30 SLM US.
In addition to its Additive Manufacturing Centers of Excellence in the US, Germany and Japan, DMG has 12 technical centers in the US, as well as a headquarters, academy training center and spare parts center. In the U.S. alone, it has more than 16,000 customers and more than 63,000 installations. The company's 3D Printing Center of Excellence provides design and service support for additive manufacturing, metallurgy and other applications.
All of the above facts show that although DMG has introduced the LPBF process since 2017, although the technology has not been as fast as people expected, the company is achieving its goals through innovation and not relying on multiple lasers. However, we need to take a closer look at how this machine compares to multi-laser 3D printers. Additionally, the company is following a trend of increasing the resilience of its supply chain by having multiple manufacturing sites across the globe. Their bases are spread across Asia, Europe and the US, making it better positioned not only to serve its customers but also itself in anticipation of future global instability.
