Additive manufacturing equipment and software supplier Optomec (Albuquerque, NM) has integrated the Huffman AutoCLAD vision system with its LENS directed energy deposition (DED) metal 3D printing solutions.
Originally extensively used in production by major manufacturers and servicers of aircraft engines and industrial gas turbines to restore worn or damaged components. Adding this to LENS brand solutions will enable customers to use automated DED for the repair of reactive metals like titanium in a controlled, argon atmosphere. And it also brings the AutoCLAD technology to hybrid additive manufacturing—combining additive manufacturing and machining capabilities in a single system.
AutoCLAD images the part and then automatically adapts and modifies the toolpath and DED parameters for each individual part based on variations in orientation, dimension, and shape. It also adapts laser power to reduce the heat input into thinner areas, which drastically reduces the heat-affected zone (HAZ) of the finished part. The result is significantly reduced final machining time after the additive manufacturing process.
The AutoCLAD system is available immediately as an upgrade for all Optomec LENS systems that use the Siemens 840D controller, which includes the LENS CS 600, CS 800, CS 1500, and MTS 860 machines.
For more information, please visit optomec.com.
Source: Adapted from Optomec press release 11/20/19
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