APF designed to enable superalloy development in direct energy deposition.
Nikon has announced the release of the Additional Powder Feeder (APF), also known as the optional powder feeder unit. It’s designed to enable feeding multiple kinds of metal powders into Nikon’s metal additive manufacturing (AM) system, the Lasermeister 102A (LM102A), which uses direct energy deposition (DED).
According to the company, this will contribute to the development of new value-added alloys and components which consist of multiple kinds of metals using the LM102A. In aerospace, defense and energy applications, high durability and corrosion resistance are essential in ensuring stable performance in harsh environments and under extremely high temperatures.
Existing superalloys alone may not sufficiently satisfy new parts’ requirements, which is why Nikon created the APF. Developing novel superalloys by combining multiple metals could deliver critical next-level performance.
Universities and corporate research institutes are already developing these solutions, and Nikon now offering the APF to enable superalloy development using small amounts of metals to support these initiatives.
Two to four APF units can be incorporated into a single LM102A system, with each APF feeding up to four different metal powders into it. This supports alloy development, as well as functional material development and functional gradient material development. Maximum powder load is 5 kg per unit. Order timing is set for December of this year.
