Meltio Launches Laser Calibration System for Metal 3D Printing

Meltio, a laser metal deposition technology manufacturer, introduces its new Laser Calibration System as an accessory to aid in the reliability and ease of use of Meltio’s machines, facilitating a faster and more reliable print process to enhance user experience.

The Laser Calibration System enables Meltio users to calibrate Meltio’s multi-laser deposition head accurately on all three of its metal 3D printing solutions. The system consists of a laser alignment camera that is placed under the printhead to provide a clear view of the focus point of the lasers. The camera is controlled using a portable controller, which also comes included in the kit as well as a software specifically designed to filter the camera image and guide the user to focus each laser on the most optimal point.

Meltio’s multi-laser metal 3D printing technology is based on the use of six lasers pointing to a mutual point to melt the welding wire that is fed through the center of the deposition head. The lasers generate a high concentration of energy — referred to as meltpool — that melts the metal feedstock. As a result, welds beads are stacked precisely on top of one another.

The alignment of each laser is critical so they hit the exact point where the energy is concentrated; the misalignment of the lasers leads to energy inefficiency and defects on the 3D-printed parts. The camera is designed to make the calibration process easy to follow.