Renishaw Upgrades Laser Control Technology for Metal 3D Printing

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On November 10, UK engineering technology company Renishaw released its LIBERTAS laser control technology and support structure reduction software package for metal additive manufacturing, compatible with its RenAM 500 series metal printing systems. The technology reduces reliance on conventional support structures during part manufacturing by dynamically adjusting laser parameters and energy distribution, and improves the surface quality of overhang regions.

LIBERTAS analyzes part geometry to dynamically adjust processing parameters such as laser power and exposure time, enabling laser energy to vary according to material distribution and heat dissipation conditions in different regions of the part. Unlike conventional material processing files that use fixed parameter settings, this technology allows the relevant parameters to vary continuously across part contours, overhang surfaces, and solid regions to control local heat input and thermal stress during processing.

The accompanying Support Reduction Package (SRP) uses the aforementioned laser control method to adjust energy distribution during each layer of the printing process. Renishaw technical documentation shows that conventional metal powder bed fusion processes typically require supports for overhang structures at approximately 45° and smaller angles below the horizontal plane; with SRP, this critical angle can be reduced to 10° under certain application conditions. Actual results under different material and part geometry conditions still need to be determined based on the corresponding process files and test data.

With reduced support structures, the metal material required for manufacturing decreases accordingly, and the workload for support removal and surface treatment after printing can also be reduced. The technology focuses on improving the forming quality of downskin surfaces at the bottom of parts, and is suitable for metal part production involving complex geometries and requiring control of post-processing operations.

The software has been integrated into Renishaw's QuantAM additive manufacturing preparation platform and can be deployed on existing compatible equipment without additional hardware. Its licensing model is configured per QuantAM software seat, and the generated build files can be used across multiple machines, making it suitable for small-batch high-value part manufacturing and scaled production.

LIBERTAS can also be used in conjunction with Renishaw's TEMPUS technology. TEMPUS allows the laser to continue processing the previous layer's region while a new layer of metal powder is being deposited, reducing inter-layer waiting time. Renishaw's previously published technical documentation shows that TEMPUS can reduce manufacturing time by up to 50% under applicable process conditions.