On May 4, 2022, Antarctic Bear learned that Essentium, the original equipment manufacturer behind high-speed extrusion (HSE) 3D printing technology, and industrial laser expert NUNUURU have collaborated to develop a new blue laser-based metal 3D printer, which can solve the pain points of copper/gold/aluminum/stainless steel and other metals in the traditional metal 3D printing process that are easily reflected and difficult to form.
△ A NUNU BLUE laser. Photo from NUNURU.
The upcoming printer, designed to achieve high-resolution and high-volume industrial-grade metal parts, will be developed under the "multi-year, multi-million-dollar" protocol. According to the partners, the system will be suitable for a variety of key industries, such as automotive, aerospace and defense.
The new laser metal 3D printer will incorporate NUNURU's proprietary blue laser technology and be able to process materials in the form of wire feeds, so we can infer that it operates on the principle of directed energy deposition (DED). In fact, as part of the contract, NUBURU will even license its patent for 3D printing applications to Essentialium.
Dr Mark Zediker, co-founder, CEO and President of NUBURU, said: "We are delighted to work closely with the Essentialium team to combine the power of our existing technologies to develop and manufacture a new transformative platform for additive manufacturing. Our high-power, high-brightness blue laser technology, along with our 3D printing intellectual property, will help Essentialium build a powerful metal 3D printer with a wide range of uses. "
Go beyond HSE's 3D printing
Until now, Essentium's main business has revolved around HSE technology, a form of high-speed, high-temperature FFF for engineered yarns. Therefore, the upcoming blue laser 3D printer will mark Essentialium's entry into the field of metal 3D printing.
To date, the company holds eight patents and has 3 product lines, including the early HSE 180-S 3D printer. The 180-S is available in three different versions for high-volume polymer and composite production. It is built in volumes of 690×500×600mm, making it ideal for everything from high-strength grippers to prosthetic sockets and orthoses.
On the other hand, the 240 HT dual extrusion 3D printer is designed to be small enough to fit in compact factory space and university labs, with a build volume of 430 x 350 x 375mm.
Finally, the 280i HT system is characterized by a large build volume, fast printing speed, and rich material features. Aimed at high-volume manufacturers in industries such as aerospace, electronics, automotive, and consumer goods, the system has also been described as a "true IDEX" 3D printer, where the printhead is independent on both the X and Y axes.
Essentium's HSE 180-S 3D printer. Photo from Essentialium.
What is the blue laser used for?
So, what's so special about NUBURU's blue lasers? Alloy metals such as copper, stainless steel, and aluminum are known to reflect a large portion of the energy from infrared waves and other colors of light. Therefore, the use of conventional lasers may lead to poor print quality, as well as lower printing speeds, because the energy absorption efficiency is not high.
Metals like copper, on the other hand, absorb blue light much better than other wavelengths of light, so using a blue laser can melt these materials more quickly. As a result, NUBURU claims that blue laser technology can make 3D printing up to 10 times faster than competitors, while also being able to print metal at very high densities.
According to Essenceium, the new 3D printer will produce parts similar to traditional castings and forgings, with significantly less post-processing.
Elisa Teipel, Chief Development Officer and Co-Founder of Essentium, said: "NUBURU is a leader in blue laser technology and their expertise will help enable speed and power gains on our new platform. We look forward to working with their team to leverage their technology to enable Essentialium to commercialize a new metal 3D printing platform." "
△ Copper, gold, aluminum and other materials absorb blue lasers better than lasers of other wavelengths. Image from NURU/NASA 1969
In May 2022, a batch of 3D printing live broadcasts are waiting for you to see