Meltio Launches US-Assembled Robot Cell For Metal 3D Printing
The company says assembling the system in the United States will reduce shipping and customs delays associated with importing equipment from Spain while allowing the cell to be configured for US industrial requirements.
The Meltio Robot Cell integrates the company's metal 3D printing head with an industrial robotic arm inside a laser-safe enclosure. It also incorporates the Meltio Engine, Meltio Space software, a positioner and other equipment required for robotic directed energy deposition (DED).
Alejandro Nieto, Meltio product manager, says:“Meltio's main commitment with the launch of the Meltio Robot Cell assembled in the United States is to offer all types of industries the ability to manage the entire manufacturing process using our metal 3D printing technology consisting of a Meltio head integrated into a robotic arm and in a safe environment, in order to produce parts at the point of need and at the time of need.”
Nieto adds:“This solution allows the customer to receive a product ready to use for robotic metal 3D printing and reduces all the transportation costs. This new hardware system allows the customer to receive a cell for robotic metal 3D printing, removing the integration process and long assembly lead times. The Meltio Robot Cell has a specific area for every supply the cell requires daily; only connecting to the inert gas and electric supply is enough to start manufacturing.”
The US-assembled system is compatible with Meltio's open hardware platform and can integrate its metal 3D printing technology with industrial ABB robotic arms.
Meltio is working with US automation specialist FORCE Automation on the initiative. FORCE was Meltio's first official ABB Robotics integration partner in the United States and has previously worked on integrating Meltio technology with ABB robots.
Gabriel Ortiz, Meltio North America sales manager, says:“Meltio is committed to supporting the North America industrial base on its journey towards reestablishing technological sovereignty, and providing Meltio's technology assembled in the USA, is just a first step towards improving access and service levels to an already established customer base using what is now better understood as one of the most flexible and user friendly technology that provides real solutions to real every day problems of obsolescence, logistics nightmares, and excessive costs of operation in many cases.”
Ortiz adds:“The Meltio Robot Cell is based on an open hardware platform that enables Meltio's metal 3D printing head to be integrated with robotic arms from any brand. The volume and work area defined within the Meltio Robot Cell workspace are designed to meet a wide range of manufacturing needs, while Meltio's industrial-level additive manufacturing technology enables autonomous part production through integrated monitoring and safety features.”
The cell is designed as a plug-and-play system requiring electrical power and an inert gas supply and is intended for controlled indoor industrial environments.
Meltio is targeting applications including automotive, aerospace, mining, heavy industry, oil and gas and shipbuilding. Previous applications of its robotic additive manufacturing technology include:
Ferrita: The Swedish exhaust specialist used a Meltio Robot Cell to manufacture four custom stainless-steel tailpipes for a Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, cutting production time and costs by approximately 50%.
Eurobearings: The company used Meltio robotic metal 3D printing to manufacture and repair large industrial components, reporting lead-time reductions of between 30% and 50%.
Cavaletto Mario: The Italian forging specialist automated repairs of trimming dies and punches, reporting cost savings of 67% compared with traditional electrode welding and 20% compared with conventional mold manufacturing.
Meltio says the Robot Cell can be used for manufacturing new components, adding features to existing parts, hard-facing and cladding, repairing worn components and producing spare parts on demand.
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