At Formnext 2023, ADDiTEC made its debut showcasing its Liquid Metal Jetting technology following the acquisition of Elem Additive from Xerox earlier in the year. The technology utilizes a drop-on-demand liquid metal printing process and is featured in the company’s new Hybrid 3 system, which was launched at the show. During a visit to the ADDiTEC booth, TCT examined this exciting technology more closely.
Sriram Manoharan, R&D Program Manager at ADDiTEC, explained that the Liquid Metal Jetting process involves welding wire into a crucible with an induction heating mechanism to melt the wire. Electromagnetic forces then generate a pulse, which produces droplets. This process offers the advantage of high-resolution parts. Additionally, Manoharan discussed the benefits of Laser Directed Energy Deposition technology, which provides high deposition rates.
Combining these two technologies offers several advantages according to Manoharan. Firstly, it provides a geometric advantage by allowing for high-deposition infills with laser wire DED and high-resolution perimeters with liquid metal jetting. Furthermore, CNC operations can be used for surface finishing.