BLT uses Additive Manufacturing for OPPO N6 smartphone hinge
Bright Laser Technologies Co, Ltd (BLT), China, has highlighted its use of metal Additive Manufacturing to support the development of the hinge system in OPPO’s latest foldable smartphone, the Find N6, enabling a design that aims to minimise screen creasing.
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Following earlier work on the OPPO Find N5, BLT was again chosen to collaborate on the Find N6, launched globally on March 17, 2026. The collaboration was conducted within OPPO’s Tianqiong Partners industrial alliance, which brings together suppliers and research organisations to address technical challenges in foldable devices.
The crease in foldable smartphones remains a key technical challenge, affecting display flatness, hinge durability and user experience. Addressing this requires advances in both engineering design and manufacturing capability.
At the centre of the hinge mechanism, the wing plates on both sides carry most of the folding stress. Conventionally, these components are manufactured as assemblies of up to thirteen machined parts. BLT applied Additive Manufacturing to consolidate these into a single titanium structure, reducing part count and enabling a lighter design.
The additively manufactured wing plate incorporates complex lattice structures and geometry that would be difficult to achieve using conventional CNC machining. This approach also simplifies assembly and supports more efficient production.
“The supporting surface flatness of the OPPO Find N6 wing plate has improved by 50% compared to last year,” stated Vincent Yang, General Manager at Bright Laser Technologies (Shenzhen). “Achieving this level of precision once seemed extremely difficult – even unattainable – but through continuous iteration and rigorous testing, our team was able to meet and even exceed expectations.”
The Find N6 reportedly passed 600,000 folding cycles, certified by TÜV Rheinland, indicating improved durability, enabled in part by the redesigned hinge system.
OPPO Vice President and President of Hardware Engineering, Liu Chang, added, “Achieving a crease-free and durable foldable display depends not only on advanced technologies such as the next-generation titanium Tianqiong hinge and Tianqiong memory glass, but also on the collective efforts of the engineers within the Tianqiong Partners ecosystem. The Find N6 represents a significant step forward in foldable display technology, as well as a meaningful improvement in user experience.”
