RenAM 500S Flex and RenAM 500Q Flex have been added to Renishaw’s RenAM 500 range to provide users with more flexibility for material change overs when using additive manufacturing systems.
The RenAM 500S Flex, a single laser 3D Printer, and the RenAM 500Q Flex, a four laser variant, both feature a simplified powder handling system for manufacturers that regularly swap build materials during production, such as research and development (R&D), pre-production or bureau environments.
Renishaw says that the new options features the same optical, chamber and gas-flow designs as their RenAM 500 series family, but provide additional flexibility when changing powders through a non-recirculating powder system.
To avoid cross contamination, users can easily clean the system between powders by changing out hard to clean parts, rather than having to invest in a new machine for each material test. Parts can also be swapped in again if the operator wants to retest the same material again, further reducing costs.
“Manufacturers can quickly change powders in the RenAM 500S Flex and RenAM 500Q Flex in-house, giving them the flexibility they need to meet customer demand,” explained Renishaw AM Project Manager Lily Dixon.
“Once the pre-production stage is complete, the common build environment allows any parameters to be directly transferred to a RenAM 500Q with powder recirculation, without the need to retest the gas flow, chamber and optics. Manufacturers can also build full size parts on a small scale before mass production.”
Dixon added that if the user no longer requires a flexible AM system, the Flex can be converted into a recirculating machine — a feature she says is unique to this system. “Converting the system provides manufacturers with the highest productivity AM option for serial production.”
