LPBF-XXL: large-scale PBF-LB machine for coarse metal particles
Laserinstitut Hochschule Mittweida (LHM), based in Mittweida, Germany, has launched the LPBF-XXL, a Laser Beam Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-LB) Additive Manufacturing machine that uses coarse metal particles up to 1 mm in diameter developed by Ervin in Germany. The PBF-LB technology was developed by LHM in collaboration with Kobra Formen, headquartered in Lengenfeld, Germany.
For more than a century, Ervin has been synonymous with steel abrasives, producing a quarter of a million tons annually. The company is now transferring its expertise in high-volume steel production to Additive Manufacturing.
Conventional PBF-LB typically relies on fine powders under 100 µm, however the particles used in the LPBF-XXL are reported to be safer, easier to handle, and up to ten times more affordable than traditional AM powders.
The LPBF-XXL Additive Manufacturing machine is said to have been built for size and speed. It offers up to 2 × 2 × 1 m of build space, layer heights of 1-2 mm, and uses an 8 kW high-power laser with a flexible spot size. This results in build rates up to 10 kg/h.
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The combination of coarse, cost-efficient feedstock and high-throughput processing is expected to enable larger builds and boost productivity.
Ervin and LHM will showcase the new LPBF-XXL at Formnext 2025, Booth 11.0 C61, from November 18 to 21.
