Renishaw System Reduces Metal AM Build Times

Renishaw’s Tempus technology enables users of its additive manufacturing (AM) systems to achieve significantly higher productivity, with no reduction in part quality.

The Tempus technology incorporates a new scanning algorithm for Renishaw’s RenAM 500 series of metal AM systems, which enables the laser to fire while the recoater is moving, saving up to nine seconds per build layer. Over the cycle time of the build, the time savings can cut the build time by up to 50% with no reduction in part quality.

With Tempus technology, as the recoater spreads a layer of powder, the lasers “follow” the recoater, melting the powder being spread before the recoater completes its stroke. When the recoater goes back to the doser to collect more powder, the lasers “jump over” the recoater and continue melting the current layer, mitigating wiper time. As the recoater begins spreading the next layer of powder, the lasers finish the previous layer, and simultaneously start processing the new layer. Tempus technology reduces the dwell time per layer, thereby shortening cycle times.

The technology works using advanced scanning algorithms that sequence the layer data in a way that maximizes productivity while maintaining part quality. The optimization is well suited for some part geometries more than others, but all geometries can see some productivity benefits. Those parts with thin, vertical features, for example, are likely to experience higher productivity savings.

Tempus technology is a standard fitment with new RenAM Ultra metal AM systems, which are available with quad- or single-laser configuration. Existing RenAM 500 series customers can access Tempus as a paid-for upgrade. Renishaw data shows that retrofitting Tempus technology to an existing system is the equivalent of adding an extra laser.