New 3D printing machines

Farsoon has launched four new models for the industrial production of parts using plastic or metal powders in the European market. This expansion of the machine portfolio targets the higher resolution and quality of the manufactured parts while at the same time increasing productivity of parts’ production.

Farsoon already had a very broad portfolio of 3D printing machines. In line with the company’s "Open for industry" philosophy, it promotes the series production of parts using 3D printing. Therefore, the firm is now expanding its portfolio with four new models in the European market. This should cover the need for cheaper production of parts and at the same time increasing resolution of the parts’ geometries and improve parts’ quality.

As with all Farsoon models, the new models are “open systems”, allowing customers to freely choose the materials for their 3D printing, according to the specific needs of various end-uses. Furthermore, the user can freely adapt the process parameters to achieve maximum productivity with the required best part qualities.

The new models were developed at the company’s headquarters in China, taking full account of the interests and special requirements of the European market. Farsoon used the feedback from the broad customer base, mainly from Germany and Italy, in this development. The performance of these new models has been validated in the application centre at the company’s headquarters and with various customers in China.

What are the benefits of the new systems?

The Flight-HT403P-2 is the firm’s fastest laser sintering system. On an area of 400 x 400mm², two 300 Watt fibre lasers and two scanners with up to 20m/s cooperate in the production of the plastic parts using the powder bed process. The system is offered with moveable cartridges with build cylinder heights of 450 mm or 540 mm. The Flight technology (flight = fibre laser light) uses the relatively small diameter of the fibre laser to increase the feature resolution of the manufactured parts.

The HT1001P-2 established in the market is the company’s largest laser sintering system with a high degree of automation. This system represents the firm’s Continuous Additive Manufacturing Solution (CAMS), which allows for the automatic change of build cylinders after parts’ manufacture is complete. The plastic powder feed can operate in a closed circuit, using the Powder Management System. The HT1001P-2 systems have been used successfully in Europe since the beginning of 2019.

The company is now introducing the Flight-HT1001P-2 to the European market. This means that the advantages of the technology can also be used for this production machine: The speed of scanning is significantly increased, the relatively small diameter of the fibre laser can increase the feature resolution of the manufactured parts.

The FS271M has been established on the market for seven years, it enables 3D printing of metal powders using the laser melting process. The company has continuously expanded its machine portfolio, most recently the FS273M was launched in November 2021 as the successor to the FS271M.

For larger systems, for four years, customers have been using this machine, which can be optionally equipped with one or two lasers. The closed powder circuit and the use of cartridges as build cylinders enable very efficient production of metal parts. This is particularly popular in the automotive industry. With the new FS422M-4, the productivity of parts’ production is significantly increased by using four lasers on an area of 420 x 420mm². The company has once again significantly optimised the software for the cooperation of the four lasers and scanners, especially for the overlapping area. As with the FS421M, the metal powder can be circulated in a closed loop in the new FS422M-4. The company also fulfills the customer's request for a higher build height, which is 550mm in the FS422M-4.

Especially in the aerospace and energy industries, there is a request for significantly higher build envelops. Farsoon realises this with the new FS621M-4 with a height of 1,100mm. The build area of 620 x 620mm² is also important for the desired large part. This makes this machine one of the largest laser melting machines available on the market. The powder handling operates in a closed loop, the powder is fed onto the build area continuously from the top without interrupting the build job. The powder filter systems are also designed in such a way that the filters can be exchanged (if necessary) without interrupting the buildjobs.

With these innovations, Farsoon is significantly boosting the competitiveness of additive manufacturing: Parts can be manufactured more cost-effectively with larger and faster machines equipped with multiple lasers. These new machines have numerous elements designed to facilitate operation and achieve a higher level of automation. The quality of the parts is also better documented by monitoring the build process.