Tongtai AMH-350 Hybrid Additive Manufacturing Machine.
Manufacturer of 3D printed metals and electronics systems, Optomec has formed a partnership with Tongtai Machine & Tool Company, one of the largest machine tool suppliers in Taiwan, on a new hybrid additive manufacturing machine.
The agreement enables Tongtai to integrate the Optomec LENS Print Engine and add 3D metal printing to its AMH-350 (Additive Manufacturing-Hybrid) 5-axis machining centre.
The Optomec LENS family of 3D metal printers are designed for the cost-effective repair and manufacture high-performance metal components. 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 SmartAM closed loop process control, fibre laser, and tool path generation software. Tongtai will integrate the Optomec LENS Print Engine into its new AMH Hybrid product line.
“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.”
Last year Optomec signed a similar agreement with machine tool manufacturer, Fryer Machine Systems, to integrate its LENS technology into Fryer’s new LaserFab 3D hybrid machining centres.
Tongtai will demonstrate this new hybrid machine at the TIMTOS show in Taiwan next week.
