Azuma expands metal AM production with Eplus3D multi-laser machines
Eplus3D, headquartered in Hangzhou, China, has supplied two metal Additive Manufacturing machines to Azuma Kinzoku Sangyo Co, Ltd, supporting the Japanese company’s move from single-laser to multi-laser production.
Azuma has installed an EP-M300 dual-laser and an EP-M400 quad-laser Laser Beam Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-LB) machine. The two AM machines are intended to provide flexibility across different part sizes, production volumes, and applications, from prototyping to series production.
Customer projects can have differing quality requirements, evaluation criteria, and acceptance standards. According to Eplus3D, the two machines were selected to give Azuma greater flexibility when developing process parameters and production strategies for individual applications.
The EP-M300 is intended for a range of component sizes and production requirements, while the EP-M400 provides a larger build envelope and four lasers for applications requiring higher throughput.
Eplus3D also provided support during installation, commissioning, and initial operator training. The company stated that it has continued to provide technical support as Azuma develops processing conditions for production applications.
“We use the system for a wide range of projects, from prototyping to mass production,” stated Shinya Okuma of Azuma’s Additive Manufacturing team. “The printing quality is generally stable, and the system can produce complex shapes and products with internal channels with high repeatability. Compared with our previous single-laser printer, printing time has been significantly reduced, and production efficiency has greatly improved, especially for large parts and multi-cavity components.”
According to Azuma, moving from its previous single-laser equipment to the multi-laser machines has reduced build times, particularly for larger parts and builds containing multiple components, while broadening the range of applications it can undertake. Eplus3D stated that it plans to continue supporting Azuma with process development and technical support in Japan.
