3D Printing

GE Additive unveils new Concept Laser M2 Series 5

GE Additive unveiled the Concept Laser M2 Series 5 at formnext. This latest iteration of the M2 machine meets the high expectations for part quality and consistency from customers, especially in the highly-regulated aerospace and medical industries, as they move to serial additive production. The Concept Laser M2 Series 5 will be manufactured at the GE Additive Lichtenfels facility, is available for order now, with delivery expected in Q1 2020.

Teams from GE Additive have worked closely with colleagues at GE Aviation – which operates a fleet of M2s – to get direct feedback. Co-located teams collaborated on the critical characteristics needed for the next iteration of the M2 and to make a good part, but also on input on the mechanical operations, performance and productivity of the machine, and on improvements in reliability and quality.

This collaborative work incorporated an extensive machine design, system and component review, and an extended testing period, which has resulted in the GE Additive Concept Laser M2 Series 5.

The M2 Series 5 is for organizations looking for volume additive production.  It offers optimized system speed, uptime, productivity and reliability, part-to-part and machine-to-machine consistency, quality control, as well as process validation.

Key new features and benefits include:

Increased part quality and consistency

  • Improved part quality with reduced surface roughness and better stitching
  • More consistency across the whole build plate, accommodating several build jobs and machine-to-machine
  • Improved part consistency build to build and machine to machine based on machine architecture, calibration and control
  • Upgraded gas flow system: closed gas circuit with redundant oxygen monitoring for part quality and minimized filter changes
  • New optical cooling, featuring 10+ internal sensors and a More tightly controlled build environment

Increased productivity

  • 2x increased build speed and laser on time
  • Dual laser system with up to 100% coverage per laser
  • Larger build volume thanks to increased surface area and z-axis travel. Build volume: 350mm z-axis for taller parts 245 mm x 245 mm heated build area
  • Higher productivity potential enabled by machine architecture (# of lasers, 3D optics, software, gas flow)
  • Utilization and reliability (operating time + corrective maintenance downtime)
  • Part yield
  • Up to 20% finer feature resolution
  • Small spot size: 70-500 microns. Multiple exposure strategies within a single part

Enhanced usability and maintainability

  • Upgraded software and system design
  • Unique safety system, incorporating a glovebox system for non-contact handling of reactive materials, better filter change and inerted sieving and powder exchange

GE Additive
www.ge.com/additive