Nikon’s Lasermeister metal AM machine showcased at Rapid 2022
June 7, 2022
At Rapid 2022, Nikon Corporation, Tokyo, Japan, showcased its latest optical processing machine, the Lasermeister 102A, which is now capable of additively manufacturing with titanium alloy. The Lasermeister series, launched in 2019, use high-precision lasers to perform Directed Energy Deposition (DED) Additive Manufacturing, laser marking and welding in a single machine.
With 5-axis system, the Lasermeister 102A DED technology allows the building and repair of complex shapes with precision. Nikon is said to have improved the quality further by adding melt pool feedback, which observes the molten state of metal at high speed and controls the modelling operations. Compared to the earlier iteration Lasermeister 101A, the modelling speed was reported to have approximately doubled.
The dimensional accuracy and surface roughness are also said to have improved with the Lasermeister 102A, with the uniform solidification state reducing defects during modelling. The machine is also said to feature an improved metal modelling quality, which can simplify the subsequent process.
The machine has a footprint of 850 x 750 x 1750 mm and is suitable for use with stainless steel specified by Nikon, high-speed steel, nickel-base alloy, and the recent addition of Ti6Al4V.
