Scanlab introduces optimisation software and scan heads at Formnext

At Formnext 2024, Scanlab GmbH, a supplier of laser scan systems headquartered in Munich, Germany, is debuting its SCANmotionStudio software and compact excelliSCAN 30 ARRAY scan head tailored for Additive Manufacturing in an effort to simplify process optimisation and expand system selection.

The new SCANmotionStudio software offers users the ability to develop and optimise new exposure strategies via a graphical user interface. Additionally, the trajectory planning and simulation software SCANmotionControl can be integrated and used without any programming knowledge.

Using SCANmotionControl control system, process developers can simulate the scan paths of the lasers offline on the PC. As the physical properties of the scan systems are taken into account in the simulation, the paths in the application are executed by the machine exactly as in the simulation.

SCANmotionControl is an integrable programming library for machine builders. In order to evaluate the advantages of SCANmotionControl before undertaking any integration, however, Scanlab offers two solution options for different application scenarios.

Two ways to the optimum exposure strategy

A new software is now available for laboratory tests on Laser Beam Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-LB) Additive Manufacturing machines. SCANmotionStudio handles the import and slicing of large, complex 3D models, generates support structures and hatch lines and offers the ability to freely define and vary all laser and scanner parameters for each generated vector.

In addition to the classic control of the RTC and support for SCANahead control, trajectory planning with SCANmotionControl is also integrated into the SCANmotionStudio user interface. The simulation function of SCANmotionControl allows users to narrow down suitable process parameters. Processing results can be generated virtually at the touch of a button; the entire system, including sensors and cameras, can be controlled centrally without any programming effort.

Scanlab is cooperating with suppliers of AM build processors to offer those Additive Manufacturing users without laboratory access to SCANmotionControl. SCANmotionControl is now available in Autodesk Fusion & Netfabb, among others. The CAD data of the component can be prepared for AM in the usual way, then — with the help of the Scanlab app in Fusion & Netfabb — the specific process parameters can be optimised and the scan path simulation calculated, visualised and analysed for each individual layer. This allows users to evaluate the component-specific benefits of SCANmotionControl in a familiar environment.

excelliSCAN 30 ARRAY

The excelliSCAN 30 ARRAY scan head was specially designed for the high demands of Additive Manufacturing. The particularly narrow design makes this system well suited for use in multi-head machines. Because of the mechanical design, several scanning systems can work together in a space-saving manner within one machine with a very large image field overlap, thus reducing process times. The high precision and drift stability required for component processing is supported by the use of galvanometers with digital encoders.

The excelliSCAN 30 ARRAY is ‘ready for SCANmotionControl’ and uses to SCANahead technology to work with the maximum possible acceleration, regardless of scanning speed. This speed is said to allow a reduction in laser-on and processing times.

www.scanlab.de

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