The real thing looks less crappy than this render, and a lot bigger
Having already seen the launch of the large build Objet1000 at Euromold, Concept Laser has launched the (Terminator-esque-sounding) X line 1000R, its large-scale laser fusing machine initially designed for Daimler.
Daimler requested the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology and the LaserCUSING (equivalent to SLM) specialist Concept Laser to develop the X line 1000R, which apparently has the largest build chamber size yet developed, and a high-power laser in the kilowatt range that purportedly gives a 10-times increase in productivity compared with standard SLM machines.
The LaserCUSING process, which is equivalent to the SLM process, is used to produce metallic components that can be subjected to mechanical and thermal loading with high precision. Depending on the application, the materials used are high-grade and tool steels, aluminium or titanium alloys, nickel-based superalloys, and cobalt-chromium alloys. In the future, precious metals such as gold and silver will also be used.
The machine was specifically configured to cater for Daimler AG’s special requirements for automobile applications. The aim of Daimler AG was to replace costly sand- and die-casting applications in early phases of development. The LaserCUSING process will also make it possible to make lightweight structures with a high level of rigidity, which will permit weight-optimised geometries with almost no restrictions on the design.
