There is little doubt that competition is heating up within the metal additive manufacturing space. The number of companies and new machines entering the market is sure to spark innovation, while lowering the price points at which these machines can be obtained. More and more companies are relying upon metal 3D printing as a way to produce end-use products, molds, and components for a variety of products and applications. The ability to fabricate complicated designs which are lighter, more structurally sound, and less expensive to produce than traditional manufacturing methods means that the demand for metal 3D printers will continue to soar.
One company based in Germany, ReaLizer GmbH, has understood this, and in fact has been developing Selective Laser Melting (SLM) machines for quite some time. The company is well known within the manufacturing space with their line of machines which include the SLM 50, SLM 100, and SLM 250 3D printers. The company has been experiencing rapid growth within the industry, announcing record sales in the third quarter of this year due to the successes of their SLM 50 and SLM 100 machines.
Last week ReaLizer took the opportunity that they were presented with at EuroMold in Frankfurt, Germany to unveil their latest metal 3D printer, the SLM 125.
“The SLM 125 is the world’s first machine of this size with an integrated powder recovery system,” explained Andre Mader, the head of marketing for ReaLizer, to 3DPrint.com. “The machine is suitable for example in the dental field for the preparation of 130-160 teeth in a work process of eight hours. With its building envelope of 125mm x 125mm x 200mm it is also suitable for the creation of micro prototypes.”
The new machine is capable of printing mid-volume objects at speeds which are a step up from other machines currently on the market today. Below are a few of the general specifications of the new SLM 125 printer:
- Printer Size: 600mm x 550mm x 800mm
- Build Envelope: 125mm x 125mm x 200mm
- Print Speed: 5 to 20ccm/ hour
- Laser Power: 400 Watt
- Print Material Compatibility: CoCr., 31 6L, Titanium alloys, & more
- Power Handling: Integrated powder and sieving unit
The printer will priced competitively, at around €250,000 (approximately $310,500), with the very first units being delivered in May of next year. Let’s hear your thoughts on ReaLizer’s new machine, as well as the general market for metal printers, in the SLM 125 Metal Printer forum thread on 3DPB.com.
