Renishaw unveiled the EVO Project, the additive manufacturing machine it is developing specifically for production manufacturing. The new machine has a strong emphasis on automation, monitoring technologies and reduced operator interaction, and is for single material industrial production.

Powder handling is almost entirely hands off, while powder recirculation, recycling and recovery are all carried out within the inert atmosphere of the system, protecting both the user and the integrity of the material.

The EVO Project machine incorporates a high power 500 W laser that aids productivity while still maintaining precision and surface finish. It also boasts a class leading high capacity filtration system, a large 19 in. HMI user interface and intelligent workflow to further reduce the need for operator interaction.

The new machine, which is planned to be available in the second-half of 2015, is designed to complement and not replace the current Renishaw AM250 system, which is better suited for flexible manufacturing and research applications where changes between materials are a requirement. The AM250 has an interchangeable hopper system that allows various materials to be used on the same machine.

Renishaw continues to develop the AM250 system, which is also benefitting from some of the developments made for the EVO Project machine. This has led to the recent introduction of the PlusPac™ upgrade pack which offers improvements to Z-axis seals and chamber lighting, plus substantially improved gas recirculation and filtration.

Renishaw will display the EVO Project machine at Euromold 2014, along with its other systems, including the AM250 system and an AM250 fitted with the PlusPac upgrade.

Renishaw
www.renishaw.com/evoproject