AM Cube

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The AM Cube is a »Easy to use«-3D metal printer for manufacturing large and complex components. It is suitable for coating and repairing components up to 500 mm in size, for cylindrical components up to a meter long and for the near-net-shape production of semi-finished products.

Flexibility

Coating
Repair
3D printing

Automatic deposition-head changing

Wire or powder feedstock material
3D printing or coating
Internal or external coating

Modular design

3-axis, 4-axis and 5-axis

Process monitoring

Acquisiton of all video an sensor data during LMD process
Live visualization of video and sensor date in real time
Post process analysis of data

»Easy to use«

Well-known Siemens control system components
Programming in DIN ISO or CAM
Cartesian coordinate system

Highlights

Deposition head

Unlike other 3D metal printers, the deposition head on the CHIRON Group's AM Cube can be changed during an active printing/ coating process. This allows different process requirements to be fulfilled: For example, one deposition head can be used to achieve a high-quality surface finish, while another can be used to achieve a high deposition volume. The automatic head change function enables these properties to be combined in a single workpiece. The AM Cube has three deposition heads in total and additionally allows the deposited material to be changed. Wire and powder can be deposited in different phases of the same manufacturing process.

Wire deposition head

Powder deposition head

Powder deposition head for internal coating

Programming

Like CHIRON Group CNC machining centers, the AM Cube uses a conventional, Cartesian coordinate system. Operation and programming are both intuitive. The system is programmed either using a standardized DIN ISO code or, for complex components, using a CAD/CAM software tool. All aspects of the system can be controlled using tried-and-tested Siemens components, from hardware to the HMI through to programming of the AM Cube.

Easy NC-programming

Cartesian coordinate system
Siemens 840D sl Touchline as HMI with »Run my Robot Direct Control«
CAM-programming

Process monitoring

In order to analyze the laser deposition welding process in a targeted manner and be able to optimize it, two digital systems are available: Firstly, DataLine AM means that all relevant process data can be displayed, recorded and documented in a compact quality report, continuously and in real time. This allows product and process quality to be assessed with certainty. Secondly, VisioLine AM visualizes and saves video files recorded by multiple camera systems (e.g. the melt pool camera, thermal camera, workpiece camera, working area camera), thereby enabling systematic process monitoring.

Modular axis configuration

The system is designed as a platform and can be reconfigured from 4-axis operation to 5-axis operation with relatively little effort.

Operational safety

Because the AM Cube is equipped with a state-of-the-art sensor system and therefore fulfills all the relevant safety requirements, it does not need to be constantly manned. When working with highly reactive materials such as titanium, the entire system can be flooded with shielding gas to reduce oxidation. This protective atmosphere allows production to continue for multiple hours.