Ahead of the North American additive manufacturing event, RAPID 2016, 3D printer manufacturers are showcasing some of their exciting progress in the hopes of drawing a crowd at their exhibition booths. For instance, French manufacturer Prodways recently demonstrated their ultra-fast 3D printing process, currently in the R&D phase. EOS, too, just announced its North American expansion preceding RAPID. Keeping in line with the trend, Sweden’s Arcam AB has just unveiled upgrades to its Q-series of electron beam melting (EBM) 3D printers, launching the Q10plus and Q20plus, as well as a new quality control mechanism called xQam.
The new systems are all about improving the electron beam at the heart of Arcam’s EBM technology. New electronics are built into the Q10plus and Q20plus to increase the accuracy and efficiency of beam control, further enhanced by a new software platform, EBM Control 5.0.
In addition to improving the accuracy and efficiency of beam control, the software also incorporates new melt strategies and increases build speed and precision. Finally, both of the new machines feature xQam, a system that uses X-ray detection for automatic calibration and beam control. Altogether, Arcam claims that the Qplus systems are 25 percent more productive than the previous models with what they suggest is “significantly improved surface finish and precision.”
Magnus René, CEO of Arcam, said of the new machines, “With the Arcam Q series-plus we sharpen our offering to our main markets, the implant industry and the aerospace industry. With the introduction of the innovative Arcam xQam technology, Arcam reinforces its commitment being at the technological forefront within industrial additive manufacturing.”
As with the previous models, the Q10plus is geared toward the orthopedic implant industry, while the Q20plus is marketed toward aerospace due to its larger build volume of 350 mm in diameter x 380 mm in height (13.8 in diameter x 15.0 in tall).
The new systems retain the newer electron beam gun, as well as the Arcam LayerQam camera-based system for quality assurance. With the new upgrades, Arcam is further improving its EBM systems for industrial production, potentially bringing a new level of control and quality to their technology for mainstream manufacturing.