A close look at the beam used in Additive Solutions 3D printers
We hear quite a lot about 3D printing research coming out of Russia, but less about Russian 3D printing companies. It’s always interesting to learn about new companies in locations that haven’t been hotbeds of 3D printing so far. Additive Solutions is, according to its website, the first company in Russia to “offer integrated systems on the market of additive technologies.” Not only does the company manufacture 3D printers, it provides comprehensive services to clients as well. Additive Solutions’ offerings include various 3D printer models, Stratum software, metal powders, research, technology development, consulting, service, spare parts, and training in various programs.
“Our main know-how is the fusion of products with a non-Gaussian beam, which is the standard solution in the field of additive technologies,” Dmitry Grachev, Additive Solutions CTO, told 3DPrint.com. “Due to this solution, the fusion of metal powder is carried out by a beam with a distribution according to the type of reverse Gauss, which increases the fusion area without overheating. This solution allows us to increase productivity by 20%, relative to other 3D printers.”
Typical 3D printer beam distribution
The solution developed by Additive Solutions has a more uniform structure than typical metal 3D printers, which allows for more effective melting of the metal powder. This results in fewer internal stresses. The company also claims a 99.6% density in 316L for example.
Additive Solutions offers five different 3D printer models, which include:
- D130, the most basic of the company’s 3D printers, designed for the production of small, highly precise parts
- D250, a high-performance 3D printer suitable for mass production of medium-sized parts
- D500, a more advanced 3D printer created for mass production of larger parts
- S800, the company’s largest 3D printer
- D130, designed for medical 3D printing
Additive Solutions also functions as a service bureau, producing metal 3D printed parts for a variety of applications from medical to automotive. In addition, the company provides research and development services, from the technical proposal stage all the way to working prototypes.
The additive manufacturing market is beginning to open up in Russia, with companies like Additive Solutions leading the way. While there isn’t an overwhelming number of companies offering 3D printing services, the country certainly isn’t a 3D printing dead zone; some impressive things have been accomplished in Russia so far. Last year, a group of Russian companies worked together to 3D print a residential house in Yaroslavl, and the Russian town of Stupino is home to Apis Cor’s 3D printed house, completed in 24 hours.
Russia’s space program has also been employing 3D printing, and a significant amount of additive manufacturing research has been coming out of the country as well, from new materials to bioprinting and even complex neural networks for metal 3D printing. To keep these new developments coming, there is a need for a strong market in 3D printers and 3D printing services, which are exactly what Additive Solutions plans to continue providing as Russia’s 3D printing industry further unfolds.
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