Large copper components can now be processed on 3-D printers from Luton-based
Trumpf Ltd as easily as ‘common 3-D printing materials’ such as stainless steel. The high-tech company has equipped its largest 3-D printer, the TruPrint 5000, with the green laser for the first time for this purpose. Roland Spiegelhalder, Trumpf’s product manager responsible for the TruPrint 5000, said: “The green laser is crucial for processing copper.
“With the TruPrint 5000 Green Edition, we are responding to the demand for systems with capacity to produce copper components such as those required for electric motors or heat exchangers. Moreover, the system is energy efficient and repeatable, and therefore very well suited for series production.”
Furthermore, Hybrid production is now possible with the new TruPrint 5000, as users no longer have to additively manufacture an entire component, thereby lowering costs. For example, users of the TruPrint 5000 can use the Preform function to print special features such as cooling channels onto milled or cast components; maintenance technicians can also repair turbine blades of engines additively.
Mr Spiegelhalder added: “For this, the system has to work particularly precisely a requirement that is made possible by our Preform system, which is based on an advanced camera system. Meanwhile, the Preform Advanced variant has additional sensors and operates automatically, allowing series production of hybrid components.
“With its three fibre lasers, the TruPrint 5000 can produce metal components even faster, although it is necessary for the lasers to be perfectly calibrated and work accurately to within a few microns. To make this possible, Trumpf developed its Automatic Multilaser Alignment system. The lasers automatically measure themselves during the part build at a freely selectable interval and correct their position independently.
“This ensures very high accuracy and saves time because the user no longer has to interrupt the build — for up to an hour — for measurements to be taken. This function also allows the TruPrint 5000 to measure and recalibrate itself before and after each build job.”