Trumpf is Covering All of its Bases by Offering a Full Range of Laser Metal 3D Printers

With the addition of a new type of metal 3D printing technology called laser metal fusion (LMF), German industrial machining and tooling equipment manufacturer Trumpf is now the only company in the world offering all of the major laser 3D printing technologies in the same place. Their new LMF 3D printer was debuted last month at Frankfurt’s Formnext trade fair and it joins the laser metal deposition (LMD) technology that Trumpf introduced nearly fifteen years ago as some of the most advanced metal 3D printing technologies available. Both the LMF and LMD technologies are ideal metal printing processes that are rapidly growing in popularity with businesses and industries that need robust metal 3D printing for rapid prototyping or the manufacturing of low-volume metal parts.

From the headquarters of their newly established 3D printing division in Ditzingen, Germany, Trumpf has quietly been expanding their range of metal 3D printing technologies to be able to offer their customers the widest range of options as possible. Thier primary technologies use similar metal powder materials, but they use them in very different ways. However, all of their technology has been optimized for industrial applications and can be customized for the needs of their individual clients. In addition to their new LMF metal 3D printer, Trumpf has also introduced new optimized versions of their LMD technology that will expand its capabilities and speed up the 3D fabrication process.

“Additive manufacturing will not only supplement production techniques in the future, but will also exert a formative influence on them. We will be offering rugged and highly productive machinery with small and medium-sized parts incorporating complex structures. LMF and LMD are the two leading technologies in the additive manufacture of metal parts. No matter whether you are dealing with injection nozzles, turbine blades, tools or even medical implants – with our broad range of technology we are offering the best solution for virtually every application,” explained the head of Trumpf, Peter Leibinger.

The new TruPrint 1000 LMF 3D printer uses a powder bed process to build three-dimensional parts by laying down a thin layer of metal powder materials onto the build surface while a 200-watt laser fuses the layer of powder along the contour of the part being printed. The material is deposited within a sealed process enclosure that contains the material supply cylinder, the construction chamber and the material overflow receiver. The TruPrint 1000 is an ideal metal 3D printer for manufacturing jewelry, dental applications and for materials research. The compact TruPrint 1000 LMF machine can generate parts that are a maximum of 100 mm (3.9 inches) in diameter and 100 mm (3.9 inches) tall.

Trumpf also introduced a new optimized versions of their LMD technology at Formnext which adds several new manufacturing options to their TruLaser Cell Series 7000 system and their TruLaser Cell 3000 system. Both additive manufacturing systems are faster than ever before, offer more customization options and can work with a wider range of materials. The improved versions of LMD can deposit material at rates as much as 500 cubic centimeters per hour, and be used to construct entirely new objects, or even to repair or build on top of existing parts.

All of Trumpf’s industrial quality metal 3D printers offer simplified touch screen controls that are easy to understand and navigate and can even walk users through each of the steps in the manufacturing process. The technology is capable of fabricating objects with extremely complex geometries not possible with traditional metal manufacturing processes, including objects with internal channels and hollow spaces. Their printers are capable of serving industries as diverse as aerospace, automotive, medical, jewelry, energy production and construction.

With their new, expanded and customizable portfolio of technologies Trumpf is offering their customers a complete metal additive manufacturing solution. This includes their high-powered lasers, 3D printing technologies, powder materials, printing services and even application consultation. And with production facilities based in China, Germany, France, the UK, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Austria, Poland, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and the US there is virtually no market in the world that Trumpf isn’t capable of servicing with its growing metal 3D printing division.  Let’s hear your thoughts on this new machine in the Trumpf 3D Printers forum thread on 3DPB.com.