Industrial Laser Solutions

GE Additive develops meter-class laser additive manufacturing machine

June 26, 2017

GE Additive is creating a laser-powder additive manufacturing machine able to print in a 1000 × 1000 × 1000mm build envelope.

GE Additive (Cincinnati, OH) is creating a laser-powder additive manufacturing machine tailored for the aerospace industry, as it will be able to print in a 1000 × 1000 × 1000mm build envelope. The development project, announced at The Paris Air Show, will be unveiled in November 2017 at the formnext show in Frankfurt, Germany.

"The machine will 3D-print aviation parts that are one meter in diameter, suitable for making jet engine structural components and parts for single-aisle aircraft," says Mohammad Ehteshami, vice president and general manager of GE Additive. "The machine will also be applicable for manufacturers in the automotive, power, and oil and gas industries."

The initial technology demonstrator machine, called ATLAS, is a laser/powder machine and will be meter-class (1000mm) in at least two directions. The GE team has been developing the machine over the past two years and several proof-of-concept machines have been built.

In the machine’s production version (1000 × 1000 × 1000mm), the build geometry will be customizable and scalable for an individual customer's project. Its feature resolution and build-rate speeds will equal or better today's additive machines. It is also designed to be used with multiple materials, including non-reactive and reactive materials (such as aluminum and titanium).

"We have customers collaborating with us and they will receive beta versions of the machine by year's end," Ehteshami says. "The production version (yet to be named) will be available for purchase next year."

The technology demonstrator builds upon GE technology, combined with Concept Laser's expertise in laser additive manufacturing machines. Concept Laser (Lichtenfels, Germany; GE Additive has controlling ownership) currently has the largest laser-powder bed additive machine on the market with a build envelope of 800 × 400 × 500mm.

GE is targeting first deliveries of the machine in late 2018.

For more information, please visit www.geadditive.com.