[News] Addireen: Leading China's Green Laser Metal 3D Printing Innovation on the Global Stage at Formnext 2024

The leading exhibition for precision forming and 3D printing, Formnext 2024, was successfully held in Frankfurt, Germany. ADDIREEN made a notable appearance by showcasing self-developed green laser metal 3D printing machine and a range of innovative solutions, highlighting the company's latest advancements in metal additive manufacturing. With an emphasis on precision, efficiency, and sustainability, ADDIREEN captured the attention of visitors from around the world through multi-industry applications and detailed on-site explanations.

Technological Breakthroughs: Advancing the Green Laser Advantage

The printing of highly reflective and refractory metals has long been a significant challenge in the field of metal 3D printing. Traditional metal 3D printing machines, which commonly employ infrared lasers, face limitations with materials such as copper, gold, and tantalum and their alloys. The absorption rates of these metals are relatively low when exposed to infrared laser energy, which can result in issues such as spattering, porosity, and reduced material density. Ultimately, these issues affect the quality and performance of the printed parts.

Absorption rate of various metal materials (%)

ADDIREEN's equipment addresses these challenges by employing a shorter wavelength green laser source, which markedly improves the absorption of the laser light by metals such as copper, aluminum, gold, and silver during the printing process. This innovation enhances the precision and efficiency of metal printing while facilitating the creation of intricate structures. Furthermore, the fine laser spot of ADDIREEN's green laser metal 3D printing machines allows for the production of complex and delicate geometries, thereby meeting the exacting requirements of high-end manufacturing.

(Figure 1. XH-M160G Green Laser Metal 3D Printing Machine Showcased at Formnext 2024)

At Formnext 2024, ADDIREEN presented a variety of exhibits that demonstrated remarkable technical capabilities. One standout piece was a rocket thrust chamber (Figure 2) printed using pure copper, which has exceptional thermal conductivity and high-temperature resistance. These exhibits fully showed the application potential of ADDIREEN's printing machines in aerospace, providing reliable solutions to complex manufacturing challenges.

(Figure 2. A Large-sized Thrust Chamber Printed Using Pure Copper)

(Figure 3. Combustion Chamber)

(Figure 4. Engine Nozzle)

(Figure 5. High Frequency Induction Heating Coil)

(Figure 6. Fin Structure Display)

Additionally, ADDIREEN showcased a series of components focused on heat dissipation. The Fin Structure Display (Figure 6), featuring a hollow design, exhibited excellent performance in terms of precision and surface roughness. With strong R&D capabilities, ADDIREEN offers customized metal 3D printing solutions that cater to the unique demands of diverse applications.

Innovative Applications: Breakthroughs in Ornaments and Consumer Goods

The consumption area demands extremely high surface smoothness and precision for printed parts, making 3D printing of metals like copper particularly challenging. Achieving a high-quality finish in copper printing not only tests equipment capabilities but also requires exceptional process control.

(Figure 7. ADDIREEN First Public Display of Decorative Exhibits)

At Formnext 2024, ADDIREEN surprised this field by exhibiting an array of printed metal decorative and consumer products. These included stylized ornaments, such as the dragon ornament pictured in Figure 7, which exemplified the effect of polished, silver-plated, and gold-plated ornaments in a sequential arrangement from right to left.

Due to its metallic properties, copper exhibits similar laser absorption characteristics to gold. Consequently, copper was selected as the primary material for testing and demonstration purposes at this exhibition. After undergoing a polishing and gold-plating process, ADDIREEN's copper prints exhibit a warm luster and brilliant gold color. The favorable compatibility between copper and gold ensures that, despite the thinness of the gold plating layer, the durability and visual effect remain exceptional.

(Figure 8. ADDIREEN First Public Display of Decorative Exhibits)

These exhibits provide a specific illustration of the ADDIREEN equipment's capabilities in precision control, while also offering insights into the potential applications of green laser metal 3D printing in artistic creation, ornament manufacturing, and the production of high-end consumer products. Figure 7 displays a ring printed using copper metal printed piece, reflecting the high precision and craftsmanship of ADDIREEN's equipment.

Industry Leadership: Precision Structures and Extreme Testing

ADDIREEN's green laser metal 3D printing machines have achieved an industry milestone with the ability to print pure copper wall thickness as thin as 0.08 mm. The extreme testing piece (Figure 9) on display provided a clear demonstration of the advantages offered by green laser technology in printing highly reflective metals like pure copper and its alloys.

ADDIREEN equipment offers the finest green laser spot available in the industry today, setting a strong technological benchmark for print quality and precision control. ADDIREEN's commitment to continuous innovation provides more efficient and reliable additive manufacturing solutions for aerospace, Marine Engineering, new energy vehicles, and other fields, contributing to the industry's progress.

(Figure 9. Copper Printed Structure)

Formnext is a global platform for additive manufacturing, and ADDIREEN's participation showcased the strength of Chinese innovation to an international audience. By presenting cutting-edge green laser 3D printing machines and diverse application scenarios, ADDIREEN drew significant attention from global visitors.

ADDIREEN remains committed to advancing metal additive manufacturing, leveraging technology to drive industrial progress, and delivering reliable, efficient solutions across various sectors. Together, we look forward to shaping the future of innovation in additive manufacturing.