GE Additive releases updated Concept Laser M2 cusing range
June 4, 2018
GE Additive’s Concept Laser M2 cusing Multilaser machine is one of a range of updated systems (Courtesy GE Additive)
GE Additive has released an update to its range of Concept Laser M2 cusing and M2 cusing Multilaser machines, which it states will provide customers with an increased level of productivity and reliability, as well as lower overall operating costs. Concept Laser machines are used across a wide range of industries, such as aerospace, automotive, medical and dental, and are well-suited to scenarios and applications where industrialisation is a key outcome, especially for medium-sized parts.
The company refers to the M2 cusing family is the ‘workhorse’ of its Additive Manufacturing product portfolio. Since acquiring a majority stake in Concept Laser in October, 2016, GE Additive has invested aggressively in the future of the company – expanding its headquarters, growing its employee base and support teams and investing in further development of its systems and materials.
“Customers, especially in the aerospace and medical industry, have high expectations,” stated Meddah Hadjar, General Manager, Additive Laser Products at GE Additive. “For that reason we continuously review our solutions portfolio to to confirm we are offering the right machines and the right materials for an ever-demanding range of applications.”
Key upgrades to the latest version of the M2 cusing range include a new gas flow system, backed by redundant oxygen monitoring and a closed inert gas circuit for better part quality; a new cooling unit for optical components, offering a temperature controlled environment monitored by multiple new sensors, thus preventing influence from external and internal temperature changes; and a more tightly controlled build environment, for higher and more reliable part quality.
The updated machines are also reported to offer a higher build chamber, with a z-axis of 350 mm (total build volume: 250 x 250 x 350 mm) and a newly designed heating system. Due to the advanced closed-loop control offered by the systems, a higher degree of accuracy is also possible on the z-positioning.
