Amace Solutions launches ALM-400 metal AM machine
Metal Additive Manufacturing technology provider Amace Solutions Pvt Ltd, an Ace Micromatic Group company based in Bangalore, India, has launched the ALM-400 metal AM machine. The new machine has been designed and developed to suit serial production applications for prototype and end-use manufacturing.
The ALM-400 has a build volume of 410 x 410 x 450 mm and features a dual laser system with full scan field covered by the two-high powered 1 kW lasers. The machine can additively manufacture a wide range of materials such as stainless steels aluminium alloys, maraging steels, Inconel, titanium alloys and more. The ALM-400 can additively manufacture parts with layer thicknesses varying anywhere between 30 microns to 120 microns, and for improved precision in axes positioning and serviceability, all axes are controlled by servo motors.
A key feature of the new machine is said to be the innovative multi-blade recoating system, designed to enhance productivity. Incorporated in the ALM-400 is a powder management system, in-situ inspection of part dimensions, automatic filtration system, user friendly data display on the Graphical User Interface (GUI) and the remote monitoring and control.
“The ALM-400 has been designed keeping high productivity in focus,” stated TP Sridhar, CEO and Director, Ace Designers Ltd. “With some of the unique features of the machine, ALM-400 will meet and exceed the expectations of additive machine users. With enhanced user experience and intuitive feedback, the machine is convenient to operate and troubleshoot.”
As well as the international market, Amace Solutions is also targeting India, where the company explains the adoption of metal AM is currently low. Some of the major factors are said to be low productivity rates, high cost per component compared to conventional manufacturing and relatively high machine downtimes during breakdowns, predominantly due to the non-availability of service engineers and spare parts. The high cost of metal AM machines has also been a major factor contributing to the hesitancy in customers adopting metal AM for their manufacturing processes.
With these factors in mind, Amace Solutions, produced the ALM-400 which it states is highly reliable, offers high rates of productivity in metal AM and faster Return on Investment (ROI) for the customer. The company reports that many of its existing customers are looking to adopt Additive Manufacturing in order to stay competitive and relevant, another reason for the development of this latest machine.
With over four decades of experience in the machine tools sector, having delivered more than 60,000 machines and with a global footprint in over fifteen countries, Ace Micromatic Group is one of the largest and most comprehensive machine tools groups.
LS Umesh, CEO & Director, Ace Manufacturing Systems Ltd, added, “The versatile machine is developed on the strong foundation of our vast experience in machine building and understanding of metal working machines. Backed with industry expertise and having been involved in the technology for the past many years, amace, today has a better understanding of customer requirements. The team has understood the complexities in manufacturing faced by customers and has the right solution through the AM process.”
