At Formnext 2023, ADDiTEC showcased its new Liquid Metal Jetting technology, which uses a sophisticated drop-on-demand liquid metal printing process. This technology was introduced for the first time after the acquisition of Elem Additive from Xerox earlier in the year. The company also launched its new Hybrid 3 system at the show, which features the Liquid Metal Jetting technology, as well as its Laser Directed Energy Deposition technology and CNC machining capabilities.
TCT had the opportunity to visit the ADDiTEC booth at Formnext to get a closer look at their new technology. R&D Program Manager at ADDiTEC, Sriram Manoharan, explained that the Liquid Metal Jetting technology involves welding wire into a crucible, where an induction heating mechanism melts the wire. Electromagnetic forces then generate pulses, which in turn generate the droplets. This technology offers high resolution parts, while the Laser Wire DED technology is designed for high deposition rates.
Manoharan also highlighted the advantages of combining these two technologies, including a geometric advantage where the laser wire DED can be used for high deposition rates for infills, and then the liquid metal jetting can be used for perimeters with high resolution. Additionally, CNC operations can be used for surface finishing.