NPPower launches Malachite, a budget metal PBF-LB machine
NPPower, a startup based in Gorišnica, Slovenia, has entered the metal Additive Manufacturing market with the unveiling of its Malachite Laser Beam Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-LB) machine at this year’s Formnext. The Malachite has a build chamber of 125 mm (diameter) x 100 mm and includes a 200 W fibre laser, making it suitable for manufacturing non-reactive metal powders such as cobalt-chrome, stainless steel, bronze, brass, and nickel.
The new machine incorporates a double-piston powder loading system, which adds metal powder from the left and right side of the bed in turn, minimising coater downtime and accelerating the build process. The system enables a layer thickness ranging from 15-85 µm. It also features a 360º LED status bar and an in-chamber camera that offers a general and detailed view within the machine.
By implementing a 200 W fiber laser and galvo scanner, the AM machine allows for the production of complex, lightweighted objects with thin walls. The low power consumption – averaging 500 W in addition to an average inert gas consumption of 0.3 L/min – are said to point toward the Malachite’s sustainability.
With an overall size of 715 x 705 x 1020 mm, and weight of 220 kg, the Malachite is one of the smaller PBF-LB machines on the market and is intended for both free-standing or tabletop use. The machine is also available with a matching stand suitable for powder canister and equipment storage.
With a starting price of €75,000, NPPower states that the Malachite is well suited to small enterprises, educational institutions, designers and laboratories, but can also be of use to large-scale operations.
