Additive Industries' New Variable Print Volume Metal 3D Printer
Netherland-based Additive Industries today launched a new metal 3D printer at the Rapid + TCT show in Los Angeles it hopes will be affordable and flexible enough to attract more companies to adopt the technology.
The unique feature on the new MetalFab 300 Flex is its ability to grow its print volume. Shipping with a sizable 300 × 300 × 400 mm build envelope, customers can buy a license to expand that capacity to 420 x 420 x 400 mm on demand.
"Unlike traditional metal AM printers, MetalFab 300 Flex offers a cost-effective entry package with a novel business model in the industry to make it easier than ever for manufacturers to reduce the cost and risk of adopting metal additive manufacturing," the company says.
Yet, starting at $730,000, the MetalFab 300 Flex is hardly an insignificant investment. In fact, it's about six times more expensive than other "starter" LPBF machines, such as the One Click Metal MPrint+ at around $100K or the Xact Metal XM200G at around $150K. These two machines, though, have much smaller build volumes (about a third of the MetalFab 300 Flex) and less laser power.
Under the hood, the MetalFab 300 Flex has two 500-Watt lasers with the option for four lasers. These lasers are tuned to the base build volume with the flexibility to scan the fuller volume with the upgrade package, which is a monthly or lifetime licenses available to increase the scan field on-demand.
Additive Industries existing metal laser powder bed fusion printer, the MetalFabG2, also has a maximum build volume of 420 x 420 x 400 mm and two 500-Watt lasers.
MetalFab 300 Flex Tech Specs & Price
- Technology: metal laser powder bed fusion (LPBF)
- Build Volume: 300 × 300 × 400 mm, expands to 420 x 420 x 400 mm
- Laser: 2 x 500-Watt Yb Fiber, optional 4 x 500-Watt Yb Fiber
- Laser Diameter: 110 microns
- Accuracy: <0.05 mm
- Min. Layer Height: 20 microns
- Gas: Argon or Nitrogen
- Materials: AlSi10Mg, AlSi7Mg0.6, GRCop-42, IN718, IN625, 316L Stainless Steel, Tool Steel Alloy M300 (1.2709),
- M789, Ti6Al4V Grade 5, Ti6Al4V Grade 23
- Price: from $730,000
Audrey Chen is a female interior designer who received her BFA from The Art Institute of Atlanta. She is skilled in creating functional and aesthetically pleasing spaces that reflect the needs and personalities of her clients.
