MX3D, based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, has announced it will launch its new MX Metal AM System, a turnkey robotic wire-based Directed Energy Deposition (DED) system for the Additive Manufacturing of large, certified metal parts, at this year’s FormNext Forum Austin exhibition. The new system, with a build volume of 600 x 150 x 350 cm, was developed following requests from various industrial customers who operate within the energy, manufacturing, and maritime sectors and need to manufacture larger-scale metal components.
The MX Metal AM System operates on multiple adjustable build plates, including a heavy-duty 2-axis positioner, and can manufacture parts that weigh up to five tons or more. The system includes an 8-axis heavy-duty industrial robot setup, high productivity power source and the MX3D 24/7 automation package.
All elements are fully integrated with the latest version of MX3D’s proprietary end-to-end workflow software and control system MetalXL. This latest version software supports several new productivity tools, dynamic sensors, and active closed-loop processes. The goal is to enhance the autonomous 24/7 manufacturing of qualified industrial metal parts.
“Several of our customers see opportunities for applying WAAM [Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing] on much bigger parts. Especially in the energy and maritime industry where they will replace large casted or forged parts with 3D printed parts to accelerate the lead time, bring down cost and reshore production of critical parts,” shared Gijs van der Velden, CEO of MX3D. “Since the launch of MetalXL and the M1, we have received many customer requests about whether we could supply them with a system capable of printing radically larger parts. The MX Metal AM System is the answer to this call. Now customers can also print very large and extra heavy certified metal components in-house, accelerating 24/7 automation and operational excellence.”
The new MX Metal AM System provides a fully customisable robotic system for manufacturing large-scale metal parts. Customers can configure the perfect system for printing large, heavy, and custom metal components by utilising renowned brands such as ABB and KUKA robotics, as well as Fronius’ advanced welding equipment.
The MX Metal AM System can be optimised by various heavy-duty-cycle power sources to achieve higher build speeds at >10 kg/hr deposition rate, and can be configured for multi-material manufacturing of various metal alloys. All of these features are fully integrated and automated by the proprietary MX3F workflow platform and control system for flexible, controlled, and advanced robotic Additive Manufacturing. This technology is used by companies such as BMW Group, Shimoda Iron Works, Dalhousie University, and Whittaker Engineering.
The MX Metal AM System can be enhanced with several additional sensors, such as advanced thermal cameras, 3D scanners, weld pool cameras, and acoustic emission sensors.
“The MX Metal AM System is an impressive production system and by far the largest AM system MX3D has released to the market. It certainly is the heavyweight champion of Metal 3D Printing,” added Thomas Van Glabeke, CPO of MX3D. “We specifically configured it for our customers in the heavy industry markets, and we engineered it to ensure speed, quality, and cost-effectiveness for the production of large-scale metal parts.”
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