Optomec Showcases Affordable Metal Additive Manufacturing Systems

Optomec, a leading global supplier of production grade additive manufacturing solutions, will showcase its industry proven and affordable LENS systems for 3D printed metals at the TCT Asia 2018 Expo, which is slated for March 1-3 in Shanghai, China. Highlighting its exhibition will be live demonstrations of the Optomec LENS 450 system and video presentations of the industry first and only controlled atmosphere LENS 3D Hybrid System for additive and subtractive processing of reactive metals. The Expo will be held in Hall N1 SNIEC; Optomec will be located in Booth E76.

Optomec LENS systems are the leading powder fed Directed Energy Deposition (DED) printers on the market, with nearly 100 installations in 15 countries. The new LENS 3D Machine Tool Series (MTS) enables 3D metal printing at roughly 1/3 the price of Powder Bed Fusion (PBF) systems, in terms of equipment and powder cost. LENS DED systems are also 10x faster than PBF and have the further benefit of enabling high ROI applications such as Repair and Wear Coatings.

The Optomec LENS 3D MTS combines a high-quality CNC platform with industry-proven LENS technology to bring metal additive manufacturing capabilities to a broader market.  The Series includes four models each designed to reduce manufacturing process times and costs while enabling improved end product performance.  The LENS 3D MTS Additive model provides high-value, open atmosphere processing at the lowest cost.  With International pricing starting below € 250,000 and a large work envelope of 500 x 300 x 500 mm, this machine is a breakthrough both in pricing and functionality.  The second in the series is the LENS 3D MTS Hybrid model, which combines additive and subtractive open atmosphere processing on the same machine at a price point below € 300,000.  The third is the controlled atmosphere LENS 3D MTS Additive model which seals the build envelop in an argon glovebox to extend processing capabilities for reactive metals such as titanium and aluminum, at less than €400,000. Rounding out the series is the industry first and only controlled atmosphere LENS 3D Hybrid model which enables additive and subtractive processing of titanium, aluminum and other reactive metals in a single machine tool at a price point below € 450,000.

“The market reaction to the LENS 3D Machine Tool series has been outstanding, said Ken Vartanian, VP of Marketing at Optomec. “Since its introduction a little over a year ago, Optomec has received orders from industrial and academic customers around the world. We are pleased that our strategy to make metal additive manufacturing affordable is resonating”.

Optomec is a privately-held, rapidly growing supplier of Additive Manufacturing systems. Optomec’s patented Aerosol Jet Systems for printed electronics and LENS 3D Printers for metal components are used by industry to reduce product cost and improve performance. Together, these unique printing solutions work with the broadest spectrum of functional materials, ranging from electronic inks to structural metals and even biological matter. Optomec has sold more than 300 systems to more than 200 marquee customers around the world, targeting production applications in the Electronics, Energy, Life Sciences and Aerospace industries.