Optomec presents two new AM machines at Formnext
November 17, 2021
Optomec Inc, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA, is showcasing two new Additive Manufacturing machines at Formnext 2021: the HC-TBR, a compact metal AM machine that uses LENS® Directed Energy Deposition (DED) to build or repair AM metal parts; and the Aerosol Jet®HD2 3D electronics AM machine for 3D semiconductor packaging/assembly.
The HC-TBR machine is capable of processing reactive metal alloys such as titanium and aluminium at high volume in an oxygen-free chamber to ensure superior mechanical properties. Using advanced laser optics, the machine can remotely change the size and power profile of its laser beam, enabling significant reductions in print times, which the company states is a first for the industry. The machine was designed in response to manufacturers in several industries that are seeking lower cost methods of producing and repairing titanium components as the industrial use of titanium continues to grow worldwide.
The Aerosol Jet HD2 uses Optomec’s patented Aerosol Jet solution to produce high resolution circuitry (with features as small as 10 microns), including a unique ability to dispense conformal 3D interconnects between die, chips, components and substrates. This interconnect approach is all the more powerful due to its improved performance at high signal frequencies, enabling longer range and reduced power consumption in emerging segments such as 5G communications, automotive radar and defence applications. As a primary application, the Aerosol Jet HD2 can serve as a drop-in replacement for the decades-old method of connecting electrical components with wire bonds, which suffer from several critical deficiencies including space inefficiency, high scrap and poor signal performance.
Optomec’s patented Aerosol Jet Systems for additively manufactured electronics, and LENS and Huffman brand AM machines for metal component production and repair, are used by industry to reduce product cost and improve performance. Together, these AM solutions work with the broadest spectrum of functional materials, ranging from electronic inks to structural metals and even biological matter.
The company has reportedly delivered more than 500 of its proprietary Additive Manufacturing systems to more than 200 marquee customers around the world, for production applications in the electronics, energy, life sciences and aerospace industries.
