Stratasys enters metal additive manufacturing arena with new technology offering 10x faster speeds versus other powder bed systems

​Stratasys has entered the metal additive manufacturing (AM) market, introducing a new technology of Layered Powder Metallurgy (LPM). It will see first customer use next year, says company executive vice president Andy Middleton.

Based on a proprietary technology, it offers a true production technology, says the company. The system comprises three zones of activity: powder dispensing and rolling; compaction; then printing. These are carried out in a non-inert atmosphere, with the first material available being aluminium. An out-of-machine cold isostatic process achieving 99% density follows, dewaxing of parts follows that and then sintering of parts takes place.

Details regarding build volume and machine price are not being given, but the process is said to be 10x faster than other powder bed AM processes, with surface finish similar.

Watch the video to see the process in action.