By Raymond Walker & Bryant Walker Expanding directed-energy additive manufacturing into very large parts based on a low-cost platform has been a thrust of Keystone Synergistic Enterprises, Inc. for the past decade. Keystone has successfully produced directed-energy additive manufacturing (AM) parts using a robotic pulsed arc platform enhanced by a suite of integrated process controls […]
Laser Editorials
Ultrasonic Additive Manufacturing a Solid Choice for 3D Metal Printing
By Mark Norfolk 3D printing of metal is almost exclusively reliant on fusion based welding processes. Whether talking about laser powder bed, laser blown powder, or old-school technology like gas metal arc welding, metal is deposited by first melting and then re-solidifying a metal feedstock. Through melting and subsequent solidification, we find most of the […]
Laser Additive Manufacturing in Australia
By Milan Brandt Globalization is changing the nature of business in high-wage countries with companies having access to new and diverse markets and on the other hand, facing increased competition from low-wage countries. This is driving them to seek approaches to lower their costs and increase product diversity. Manufacturing industries in Australia make a significant […]
The Laser Seam Stepper (LSS): A New Fiber Laser Welding Tool
By Michael Wiener In today’s automotive industry — and its high-volume production environment — laser welding has become a well-established joining technology. High productivity, low heat input, and fast welding speed are some of the main advantages of laser welding compared to conventional joining technologies — such as gas metal arc welding (GMAW) or resistance […]
Industrial Lasers Outperform Machine Tool Sales Growth
By David A. Belforte Since 1970 more than a half million industrial laser systems have been installed globally, so it is fair to say they are now firmly established in material processing operations among the world’s manufacturing industries. Recent statistical reports estimate that more than $80 billion of machine tools were sold globally in 2015, […]