MELTIO has officially presented today the new version of the MELTIO Engine, a fabrication module which enables 3D printing of full density metal parts when integrated with CNC machines, robots, and gantry systems, in a seamless, easy process which optimizes resources and saves production costs. The result is the first affordable hybrid manufacturing solution, catering to almost every tooling machine in the market.

This revamped model is the result of several months of R&D development after the first public presentation of MELTIO’s products portfolio at Formnext 2019, with some interesting features. This new version stands out for its portability and compact dimensions (94x75x45 cm), which allow an easy integration with most of the CNC, robotic and gantry systems existing today, to convert them into hybrid manufacturing systems. The MELTIO Engine also includes a powerful on-board computer with integrated touchscreen and a feature rich GUI for an easy operation and monitoring of manufacturing jobs.

The MELTIO Engine uses the same proprietary MELTIO LMD-Wire + Powder technology used in their compact metal 3D printer, the MELTIO M450. The head uses a high-power multi-laser configuration to manufacture directly by deposition of layers with metallic materials in wire format, with the added ability to work with powder for the creation of special alloys. All of this without the need to change the head, through an automated process.

The MELTIO Engine can manufacture full density metal parts with tested materials such as Stainless Steel (all common grades), Inconel (718 and 625) and Ti-6Al-4V (grades 5 and 23). However, there are many other materials currently under development at MELTIO’s R&D centers in the USA and Spain, such as Copper, Aluminum, Molybdenum, Tungsten, X9, Gold and Invar.

Expanding the limits of 3D printing

MELTIO’s CEO, Ángel Llavero, highlights that the MELTIO Engine represents for MELTIO the continuation of its strategy of advanced manufacturing products for the industry. “After the launch of the M450, the MELTIO Engine moves the MELTIO LMD to a new format with which it will solve one of the great historical limitations that additive manufacturing had: the ability to manufacture large parts. Now the part size is limited only by the capacity of the robot, the gantry or the CNC in which the MELTIO Engine is integrated”.

The MELTIO Engine is designed to manufacture at industrial mass production levels, optimize resources, and allow small, medium and large companies to use technology to manufacture metal parts in the most optimized way possible.

“That was unthinkable until the arrival of MELTIO because of costs, difficulty, need for space… Is MELTIO additive manufacturing? Yes, but it offers a completely different metal additive manufacturing concept than the one conceived today by the world market”, Llavero points out.

For his part, Brian Matthews, CTO of MELTIO, says: “Because it’s a one step process the production time from conceiving a part to manufacturing the final design is very fast, typically just a few hours. This can compare to weeks or months in a conventional process. The production cost is also very low because the entire manufacturing process is performed in one machine”. “MELTIO has removed this barrier unlocking the true potential of hybrid manufacturing for the first time”, he added.

The MELTIO Engine is a flexible system that supports different configurations depending on the particular needs of each company. In its most basic configuration, the system has a starting price of € 90,000. On the other hand, to celebrate the launch of the Engine MELTIO has prepared a special promotion with a 5% early bird discount for all those orders that are received on or before December 15^th, 2020.

For more information about the MELTIO Engine you can visit MELTIO3d.com/MELTIO Engine-launch