Based in Doncaster Laser additive solutions (LAS), a supplier of laser processing and 3D printing services, is targeting customers in the UK space sector after investing in a TruPrint 3000 3D printer TRUMP CARD. The company says if all goes according to plan, this system could be the first of many metal 3D printers in the company.
Founded in 2015, LAS has over 50 years of experience in repairing, manufacturing and connecting precision lasers. The company serves customers in the general engineering, fusion power, aerospace and military industries.
“Our core competence is LMD [laser metal deposition]although like most in the industry we now refer to this process as Laser DED [direct energy deposition]’ explains Managing Director Peter Brown. “We have two very good laser systems that perform laser DED, both of which use TRUMPF lasers. While these machines can support our continued growth in the future, I felt we needed a complementary process to make faster progress, which is why we are interested in a powder bed machine.”
LAS inquired about a new TRUMPF TruPrint 1000, a system presented at the 2017 TCT Show (now TCT 3Sixty). The TruPrint 1000 is a compact metal 3D printer that, according to TRUMPF, is ideal for the fast, cost-efficient production of small series. The application for a grant was unsuccessful, so LAS put the project on hold, but was then made aware of the availability of another TRUMPF machine.
“TRUMPF alerted us to the availability of a TruPrint 3000 machine with quick delivery,” Brown said. “Although the machine has been in use before, it has had very few operating hours and has been virtually untouched. I had been thinking about a powder bed system for a number of years; This was clearly the right moment to take the plunge.”
Another driver of the investment was a surprise new order from LAS, which called for a long-term production welding job on its DED laser machines. Laser and welding systems from TRUMPF have been on site since the company was founded in 2015.
Brown added, “This work generated additional revenue that we didn’t anticipate, so we used part of it as a down payment for the TruPrint 3000. Luckily, LAS already has extensive laser/metal powder experience, so isn’t anticipating a large revenue stream.” Learning curve. Our main target for the TruPrint 3000 is the UK space sector. The space sector is constantly looking for manufacturing solutions for lightweight structures that are not easy to build with other technologies.”
A key material for the types of structures LAS is designed to produce is high-strength titanium, a material the TruPrint 3000 is already designed for.
“We will continue with this material for now and maybe present more at a later date,” Brown said. “The TruPrint 3000 is the start of a journey for us, but we don’t expect it to be fundamentally different from the way we work with our laser DED systems. We are familiar with developing machine parameters for new components, conducting trials and experimenting with different construction techniques. We can also assist with design suggestions for additive manufacturing and help minimize costs for customers.”
According to LAS, another benefit of adding the TruPrint 3000 is the ability to print 24 hours a day, unmanned overnight and on weekends.
LAS has doubled its workforce in recent years and is aiming for further expansion by bidding for what the company says is the “biggest contract ever” worth over £1million.
Brown added: “If we win, we will invest in another laser DED system and hire more people. We are very strong investors and invest everything in the business. Of course, this cannot go on forever, but my goal for the time being is to further expand our technological capabilities.”
