Renishaw presents metal additive manufacturing systems and software

Renishaw has unveiled two metal additive manufacturing (AM) systems and its QuantAM build preparation software package, designed specifically for the company’s AM systems, at formnext 2015.

The RenAM 500M industrial metal AM system is said to build complex metal components directly from CAD using metal powder fusion technology. The system features a designed and engineered optical system with dynamic focussing; automated powder sieving and recirculation; 500W ytterbium fibre laser and high capacity dual filter SafeChange system.

The AM400 metal AM system is claimed to be a development of the AM250 platform. It includes a larger SafeChange filter, improved control software, revised gas flow and window protection system, and a 400W optical system that gives a reduced laser beam diameter of 70µm.

As official supplier to Land Rover Ben Ainslie Racing team and member of its Technical Innovation Group (TIG), Renishaw will use a metal 3D printed part for the T2 racing yacht to demonstrate how an additive metal part moves through an integrated, full production process chain.

Next year, the company plans to open its doors to share its knowledge via Additive Manufacturing Solutions Centres. Here manufacturers will benefit from dedicated incubator cells equipped with Renishaw AM systems. Designers can run an evaluation project to assess how AM might benefit their company with the support of Renishaw engineers. A key emphasis being on knowledge and skills transfer.The goal is to provide an insight into the technical and commercial benefits of AM and ultimately to provide the evidence to support investment in metal additive manufacturing technology.