Optomec, a leading global supplier of production grade additive manufacturing (AM) systems for 3D Printed Metals and 3D Printed Electronics, announced an agreement with Tongtai Machine & Tool Company (TWSE: 4526.TW), one of the largest machine tool suppliers in Taiwan. The agreement enables Tongtai to integrate the Optomec LENS Print Engine and add 3D metal printing capability to its AMH-350 (Additive Manufacturing-Hybrid) vertical milling machine.

Tongtai demonstrated this new, hybrid additive manufacturing machine at the TIMTOS show in Taiwan in March 2017.

The Optomec LENS family of 3D metal printers has been used in industry for over two decades to cost-effectively repair, rework and manufacture high-performance metal components in materials such as titanium, stainless steel, carbides and nickel based super alloys. The LENS Print Engine delivers Optomec 3D Metal Printing technology in a modular format for rapid integration with metal working platforms such as CNC mills, lathes, robots, custom gantries, or even laser cutting and welding systems. Components of the LENS Print Engine include Optomec proprietary SteadyFlow™ powder feeders, LENS deposition head with SmartAMTM closed loop process control, fiber laser, and tool path generation software.

Tongtai AMH-350 Hybrid Additive Manufacturing Machine with integrated Optomec LENS 3D Print Engine

Tongtai will integrate the Optomec LENS Print Engine into its new AMH Hybrid product line. The AMH-350 is a high accuracy 5-axis machining center. 5-axis machining is an effective process to reduce setups and increase accuracy for multi-sided and complex parts.

“Partnering with one of Taiwan’s largest machine tool companies is a major milestone for Optomec in our efforts to expand the benefits of additive manufacturing,” said Dave Ramahi, president and CEO of Optomec. “The new Tongtai hybrid additive manufacturing machine will lower costs to accelerate industrial adoption of metal additive manufacturing in Asia.”

“The brand recognition for LENS along with Optomec’s successful track record in metal additive manufacturing were key factors in our decision to integrate the LENS Print Engine into our machines,” said Chairman Yen Jui-Hsiung of Tongtai. “Our partnership with Optomec will enable our customers to cost-effectively integrate this functionality into their manufacturing processes.”

For further details contact PBS Machine Tools on TEL: 011 914 3360 or visit www.pbsmt.co.za