The American provider of high-power semiconductor and fiber lasers, and the German experts for additive manufacturing (AM) technologies, pursue a joint strategic technology cooperation, making nLight’s beam shaping lasers available in EOS’ metal AM systems.

The cooperation includes the implementation of a series of complementary laser-based technologies to optimize the AM light engine for robust industrial 3D printing production. The companies plan to make beam shaping and light engine optimization capabilities available digitally, enabling customers to access different beam profiles via EOS software to activate higher productivity printing. AMCM, an EOS Group company focused on customized AM solutions, has already made the programmable AFX laser available in its metal AM systems. The letter of intent between nLight and EOS represents an evolution of this relationship.

nLight’s programmable AFX laser offers seven different beam profiles in a single laser, ranging from an 85 micron spot size for maximum precision contours, to a 210 micron ring profile for faster printing, improved process stability and reduced soot and spatter. The AFX lasers deliver printing speeds up to three times faster for 316L steel and aluminum compared to a standard 400 W process.

“EOS is an industry leader in additive manufacturing, and the teams and technologies at  nLight and EOS are highly complementary; we are excited to build on the early success with AMCM to integrate our laser technologies into the wider EOS portfolio,” said Scott Keeney, CEO of nLight.

“We are always researching industry leading technologies to advance the industrialization of additive manufacturing to meet the emerging application demands and exceed customer expectations. The flexibility and performance gains of nLight’s beam shaping and laser technologies gives us an unprecedented advancement in metal AM systems and will allow our customers to unleash a new level of productivity,” added Marie Langer, CEO of EOS.

nLight and EOS plan to make the AFX-enabled machines available to customers in late-2024.

Further reading: nLight acquires process monitoring expert Plasmo, wileyindustrynews.com, 21 February 2022

References: Dahv A. V. Kliner, Brian Victor: A Breakthrough for Fiber Lasers – Tunable beam quality enables optimized cutting of thin and thick metal, PhotonicsViews 16(1), February/March 2019, Pages 51–55; DOI: 10.1002/phvs.201900001