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Chinese 3D printer manufacturer Farsoon Technologies has announced the development of the FS1521M, a new series of Laser Beam Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-LB) 3D printers that feature large build volume and 16 fiber lasers.
The FS1521M has a build chamber diameter of 1530mm and a Z-axis height of 850mm. Farsoon also offers an FS1521M-U variant with an increased Z-axis height of 1650mm. In addition, both models are equipped with 16,500 watt fiber lasers, which are intended to increase productivity in mass production
Both the FS1521M and FS1521M-U 3D printers can also be purchased with round and square build cartridge configurations to cover a wide range of applications. Notably, the square cartridge model FS1521M-U has a hefty build volume of 3,682 liters, making it one of the largest laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) 3D printers currently on the market.
Unveiled at TCT Asia 2023 in Shanghai earlier this month, Farsoon claims the FS1521M and FS1521M-U offer significant potential for the oil and gas and aerospace industries.
Farsoon FS1521M-U. Image via Farsoon Technologies.
Farsoon’s new 16 laser 3D printer
According to Farsoon, new calibration algorithms allow the operation and overlap of all 16 lasers to be precisely controlled. This guarantees uniform mechanical properties of the parts throughout the entire construction sector, according to the company. Additionally, the FS1521M and FS1521M-U’s advanced multi-laser scanning strategies provide optional modes for efficiency, quality and balanced performance to suit different manufacturing needs.
The FS1521M series also offers high 3D printing speeds of up to 400 cm3/h, which is equivalent to 3.27 kg/h for Inconel. Therefore, Farsoon claims that the FS1521M series offers maximum 3D printing speeds for large-format parts while reducing manufacturing costs for mass production.
The new PBF-LB 3D printer series also features a novel gas flow design that ensures stable particle removal in real time. This is intended to improve the quality of end parts and operational flexibility. Parallel permanent filter systems are also integrated, which enable uninterrupted 3D printing during extreme construction times.
A non-contact, closed powder handling system is also integrated. This provides powder supply, recycling and screening functions and is carried out under a fully inert gas protected system for operational safety. Thanks to its modular and redundant powder container design, the FS1521M is also said to enable continuous feeding and collection of excess powder.
Developments in laser-based 3D printing
In the 3D printing industry, numerous new LPBF 3D printers were launched on the market last year. During RAPID + TCT 2023, the German machine tool manufacturer TRUMPF presented its 3D printer TruPrint 1000 LPBF. This new 3D printer is designed for additive series production and is designed to meet demand in the dental sector.
As an entry-level system for 3D printing with metal powders, the TruPrint 1000 uses multilaser technology and a preform, enabling the efficient 3D printing of 64 individual dental abutments in about an hour. This 3D printer features two 200-watt lasers and also offers a multi-platen option that enables uninterrupted operation by automatically replacing the build plate. This eliminates the need for manual intervention during the additive manufacturing process.
Earlier this year, Chinese 3D printer manufacturer Bright Laser Technologies (BLT) launched the BLT-S1000, a new large format LPBF 3D printer. The BLT-S1000 is considered BLT’s most powerful 3D printer to date. It has a considerable build volume of 1200 mm x 600 mm x 1500 mm and can be configured with up to twelve 500 watt lasers. This means that this 3D printer can produce large parts at speeds of up to 300 cm3/h. The BLT-S1000 is marketed for engine and petroleum propulsion applications, particularly in the aerospace and automotive sectors.
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The picture shown shows the new Farsoon FS1521M-U. Image via Farsoon Technologies.
