- Mlab cusing 200R already doing well in the dental industry
- Additive manufacturing for producing dental parts safely, quickly and flexibly
- Additively manufactured dentures growing strongly
Lichtenfels (Germany), March 06, 2017: The brilliant position in the market of Concept Laser, the pioneer of LaserCUSING, is reflected in numerous sectors. In dental technology, the Mlab cusing has since 2011 established an outstanding market position in the small machine segment for the additive manufacturing of patient-specific implants, bridges and crowns.
For IDS 2017, Concept Laser is putting its new Mlab cusing 200R at the forefront of its presentation at the trade fair (Hall 10.1, Stand B034). The Mlab cusing 200R scores points in particular for its rapid build rate and its attractive build envelope. But the many other new features are also of great interest to dental laboratories and technicians.
Numerous new references
The compact and powerful Mlab cusing 200R, which was unveiled for the first time at formnext powered by TCT, is already garnering a big response in the market even before the first machine has been delivered, as the example of the dental industry in Spain shows.
For instance, the dental laboratories Fresdental (ES), Ziacom (ES) and Deltacadcam (ES) have each already placed at least one order for the new model. ArchimedesPro (ES) announced that it would be ordering an Mlab cusing 200R at the IDS. Such references do not come about by chance, as Oliver Edelmann, Managing Director of Sales & Marketing for Concept Laser, explains: “The Mlab cusing 200R really does set the benchmark in the small machine segment. We have also put all of our expertise in performance, quality, and safety into our smallest machine range.”
Strong performance profile
The new Mlab cusing 200R presents itself to the user with an ergonomic design featuring a space-saving footprint and an intuitively designed display. It is the right machine when it comes to delivering high surface quality and the finest part structures. In comparison to the Mlab cusing R, the “big brother” makes it possible to manufacture even larger components with much greater productivity, without the machine losing any of its familiar compactness.
Compared to the previous model, the larger version features an extended build space now measuring 100 x 100 x 100 mm³ (x, y, z), which means the build volume is increased by a full 54%. Three different build envelopes are generally available to the user: 100 x 100 x 100 mm³ (x, y, z), 70 x 70 x 80 mm³ (x, y, z) and 50 x 50 x 80 mm³ (x, y, z). The top version makes it possible to manufacture even larger components, for example multiple-link bridge structures or superstructures.
The volume of the build envelope therefore also boosts flexibility and output in production. The doubling of the power of the fiber laser to 200 watts delivers maximum productivity along with a high build rate. Another new feature is a clamping system which enables more accurate component positioning.
Practical plus points: new filter concept, high safety standards and modular structure
In addition, the new Mlab cusing 200R boasts a larger filter, resulting in a considerable reduction in downtimes and thus much greater availability. Special features are the water-floodable filter and the modular structure of the machine.
The process chamber and handling section are – as is typical for Concept Laser – physically separate and enable safe and easy part handling. For this purpose, a handling station for loading and unloading the machine is docked on so that the build module can be transferred easily using a drawer principle. The handling station station is then inertized. The operator accesses the station through gloves in order to carry out the loading process or to remove parts. After the end of the process, the build module is “pulled” back into the machine and finally the handling station is undocked.
The concept of the closed system was a must-have for the Mlab cusing 200R: All process steps take place under inert gas, shielded from external influences. The whole process can therefore be implemented with the maximum level of quality and safety. This is also guaranteed by the machine’s design in accordance with ATEX directives for safe processing of reactive materials such as titanium and titanium alloys.
For the Mlab cusing 200R, Concept Laser now also offers the option of the new, inertized sieving station QM Powder S as a stand-alone unit. The user can apply a variable number of sieves (1 – 3 units). A three-dimensional sieving motion enables optimum utilization of the sieve surface area.
Outlook for the dental industry
The additive metal laser melting process is used to manufacture dental products such as crowns, caps, model castings and secondary structures in an extremely economical way.
The main materials used are cobalt-chrome, titanium or precious metal alloys. On account of the standardized production process, unique products for specific patients or small batches can be manufactured with a constantly high level of quality.
The opportunities for dental laboratories to enhance the value they offer lie in the reproducibility, the high level of quality, the precision fit, the high output of dental structures with attractive unit costs and their rapid availability. This technology enables them to develop from a specialist skilled business to become a printing center.
Concept Laser GmbH
An der Zeil 8
D-96215 Lichtenfels
Germany
Phone +49 (0) 9571 / 1679-0
Internet: www.concept-laser.de
Key word: LaserCUSING®
The patented LaserCUSING® process from Concept Laser is used to create high-precision mechanically and thermally resilient metallic components. The term “LaserCUSING®,” coined from the C in Concept Laser and the word FUSING, describes the technology: The fusing process generates components layer-by-layer using 3D-CAD data.
In this process, fine metal powder is fused locally by a high-energy fiber laser. The material solidifies after cooling. The contour of the component is created by redirecting the laser beam using a mirror redirection unit (scanner). The component is built up layer by layer (with a layer thickness of 15 – 500 μm) by lowering the bottom of the build chamber, applying more powder and then fusing again.
What makes systems from Concept Laser unique is stochastic navigation of the slice segments (also referred to as “islands”) which are processed successively. This patented process ensures a significant reduction in stress when manufacturing very large components.
Concept Laser at a glance
Concept Laser GmbH from Lichtenfels, Germany is today, unlike almost any other company, one of the real pioneers and key drivers of powder-bed-based laser fusing with metals. The technology driver here is the patented LaserCUSING® process, also referred to as 3D metal printing, which over the course of 15 years has evolved the additive manufacturing of 3D components from a rapid technology to the stage of industrial series production.
When Frank Herzog founded Concept Laser GmbH back in 2000 in Lichtenfels, a metal laser fusing machine was an entirely unknown quantity in the market. How is a 3D geometry created from metal powder using a laser? What does 3D printing or a digital process chain mean for the manufacturing of the future?
The answer was industrial machine technology: Concept Laser unveiled the first machine of this type in 2001 at Euromold in Frankfurt. With 65 patents granted today and over 120 patent applications, Frank Herzog and his workforce of around 190 employees continue to champion and develop the LaserCUSING® process. The company caters for the global market for laser fusing machines across all different sectors from sites in Germany, the USA and China and through a network of more than 35 distribution and service partners.
Concept Laser’s high quality standards, expertise in processes, applications and materials deliver reliable and cost-effective solutions which prove their effectiveness in everyday production and are primarily aimed at reducing part costs. In addition to commercial aspects, the process offers a large number of other benefits compared to conventional methods of production: The components are lighter, the designer has new freedoms, the topology and geometry are optimized, additional functions can be integrated, and less raw material is required. What this means is components that were previously manufactured using machining processes are now being redesigned to fully exploit the new potential offered by additive manufacturing.
Concept Laser offers a range of small machines (50 x 50 x 80 mm3) right through to the machine with the world’s largest build envelope (800 x 400 x 500 mm3). Machines from Concept Laser that are equipped with multilaser technology are among the fastest, safest and highest-quality laser fusing machines in the world. Around 650 installed machines and prestigious references and projects of this Franconian “hidden champion” around the globe send out a clear message and symbolize an outstanding technology for the future sealed with the endorsement “Made in Germany”.
For example, today the aerospace industry, automotive industry, medical technology, dental technology, toolmaking and other sectors focus strategically on 3D metal printing as the economical and high-quality production strategy of the future that embraces the notion of “Industry 4.0.”
2001 Presented with the EuroMold Silver AWARD for the M3 linear LaserCUSING® machine
2008 Presented with the Bavarian Innovation Prize for the M2 cusing LaserCUSING® machine
2012 Presented with the EuroMold Bronze AWARD for the X line 1000R LaserCUSING® machine
2014 BAVARIA’S BEST 50 prize-winner
2014 Finalist in the “Large Companies” category for the German Industry Innovation Prize in the shape of Frank Herzog, Managing Director of Concept Laser GmbH
Project: “The first 3D-printed titanium component on board the A350 XWB”
2015 The “Best CEO of the Year Additive Manufacturing” award was presented to Frank Herzog, President & CEO of Concept Laser GmbH by the European CEO Magazine
2015 Nominated for the German Future Prize – Prize awarded by the German President for technology and innovation
Project: “3D printing in commercial aircraft engineering – a manufacturing revolution is taking off” in the shape of Frank Herzog, Managing Director of Concept Laser GmbH
2015 FOCUS Growth Champion
2016 Winner of the “International Additive Manufacturing Award” with the QM Meltpool 3D quality monitoring tool, which was developed in-house
2016 The ”Technologie Award by the Ostbayerischen Technologie-Transfer-Instituts e.V.“ was presented to Frank Herzog, President & CEO of Concept Laser GmbH, for his entrepreneurial technology and innovation services
2016 Winner “Materialica Design+Technology Award 2016“ for the ”NextGen Spaceframe” project, together with its project partners
2016 The “Best Pioneer in the Manufacturing and 3D Printing Industry 2016” award was presented to Frank Herzog, President & CEO of Concept Laser GmbH, by the European Business Magazine
2016 FOCUS Growth Champion
2016 Winner “Bavarian Innovation Award 2016“ with the QM Meltpool 3D quality monitoring tool, which was developed in-house
2016 The “Best CEO of the Year Additive Manufacturing” award was presented to Frank Herzog, President & CEO of Concept Laser GmbH, by the European CEO Magazine
The art of LaserCUSING ® by Concept Laser
Source: Concept Laser
