Optomec, Fryer team up to expand industrial use of metal additive manufacturing

Optomec, a supplier of production-grade additive manufacturing (AM) systems for 3-D printed metals in Albuquerque, N.M., has signed an agreement with machine tool producer Fryer Machine Systems, Patterson, N.Y. As part of the agreement, Fryer will integrate the Optomec LENS® Print Engine metal AM system into its new LaserFab 3-D hybrid machining centers.

Optomec has packaged its metal 3-D printing system into a modular system for rapid integration with CNC mills, lathes, robots, custom gantries, and even laser cutting and welding systems. The modular components include proprietary SteadyFlow™ powder feeders, LENS processing head with interchangeable nozzles, fiber laser, PartPrep™ and 5-axis toolpath-generation software, and SmartAM™ closed-loop process controls.

The 3-D hybrid machining centers feature a high-power fiber laser; a 1.5-sec., 24-tool automatic tool changer; a 15,000-RPM inline spindle (30,000-RPM optional); a high-torque, 30-HP motor; and a 1,900-IPM rapid feed rate. It can print and finish machine parts to a 4-micron tolerance.