Andy Martin at GE Aviation has told Laser Systems Europe that factors such as low productivity, the steep learning curve faced by new users, and the limited availability of powder materials are holding back 3D printing from becoming a mainstream industrial process
Matthew Dale asks what measures are needed to bring metal 3D printing into mainstream production
General Electric has announced it will acquire a 75 per cent stake in German additive manufacturing (AM) systems expert Concept Laser for €549 million
Matthew Dale explores some of the latest technology for manipulating and measuring the beam, including a multi-spot optical module for laser brazing and a contactless beam analysis device
Moving to very high power lasers for welding metals, like aluminium in car production, has some big benefits, as Greg Blackman finds out