AMLAPS is a device for the manufacture of parts through Additive Manufacturing or 3D Printing in metallic materials. It uses SLM
(Selective Laser Melting) technology, in which a laser system melts layers of metal powder to form a three-dimensional part.
AMLAPS, unlike other technologies, uses a polar coordinate system that allows it to print parts continuously, decreasing manufacturing times, increasing the energy efficiency of the manufacturing times, increasing the energy efficiency of the process and increasing the strength of the parts.

– Parts can be manufactured in different metal alloys, such as steels, stainless steel, cobalt-chromium alloys, titanium, aluminum, even
among many other materials such as polymers.
– The manufacturing time of the parts manufactured on our machine is reduced by 40% to 50%, in relation to the times of a similar machine with a Cartesian printing system.
– 15% to 20% increase in system energy efficiency just by reducing the manufacturing time (can be further improved with hardware changes).
Redistribution of the residual stresses of the manufactured parts (under demonstration), which implies an increase in the mechanical strength of the parts (better behavior in real applications).

The manufacture of parts through Additive Manufacturing in metallic materials is not a recent invention. The technology has been around for about 28 years, however, in the last 5 years these technologies have aroused great interest from the manufacturing, mining, health, energy, space and aeronautics, automotive, forestry and other industries. Currently, there are different 3D printing technologies 3D printing in metals, which are able to manufacture highly complex parts in a wide variety of materials. However, there are two major problems that technology has not been able to solve effectively: Increasing printing speed and manufacturing large volume parts. It is in the UC, where the opportunity to solve at least one of the big problems through one of the big problems through AMLAPS. Through a master thesis work begins the development of this initiative to achieve new advances in 3D printing.

How does AMLAPS solve the speed problem?
Our prototype is based on the current technology of using metal powders and a laser to achieve particle fusion, however, the powders are deposited in a spiral-shaped chamber (polar coordinates). Currently, all commercially available technologies use layers in a Cartesian system, which forces the interruption of the laser (when depositing the powder in a plane) limiting the maximum manufacturing speed. AMLAPS would achieve a 40% to 50% reduction in manufacturing times. This, in conjunction with other measures, will have the secondary effect of increasing the mechanical strength of the parts.