Optomec launches metal Additive Manufacturing option for CNC platforms
September 19, 2016
Optomec, based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA, has launched a new machine tool series that integrates the company’s LENS metal Additive Manufacturing technology into conventional CNC vertical milling platforms. The system is said to offer a breakthrough price point as well as the industry’s first Hybrid VMC controlled-atmosphere system.
“Optomec’s machine tool series leverages LENS industry-proven technology to provide high-performance metal additive and hybrid manufacturing capabilities at an incredible price point, making Additive M0anufacturing a viable solution for the machine tooling industry,” stated David Ramahi, President and CEO of Optomec.
“This new product line complements our existing LENS systems and fills specific gaps for low cost additive only and hybrid CNC inert systems. We are working with machine tool vendors to make production-grade metal Additive Manufacturing more affordable and accessible,” added Ramahi.
Optomec’s new LENS machine tool series combines high-quality CNC platforms from Fryer Machine Systems with industry-proven LENS print engine technology. It includes three standard configurations, all designed to reduce manufacturing process times and costs while enabling improved end product performance and rapid design changes.
The LENS 3D Metal Additive System provides open atmosphere processing with pricing starting just below $250,000. The second configuration offered is the LENS 3D Metal Hybrid VMC System, which combines additive and subtractive operations on the same machine. Thirdly, the LENS 3D Metal Hybrid VMC Inert System provides an atmosphere-controlled environment to extend hybrid manufacturing capabilities for reactive metals and aluminium.
The LENS 3D Metal Hybrid VMC Inert System is said to the first of its kind for the metal working industry. The system can maintain oxygen and moisture levels at less than 40 ppm by replacing the upper enclosure of the CNC machine with a proprietary hermitically-sealed chamber and gas purification system.
