Renishaw has launched new software designed to make metal 3D printing more efficient and less expensive, with the technology developed for the company’s RenAM 500 series systems.
Called LIBERTAS™, the platform gives manufacturers greater control over laser parameters during metal additive manufacturing. Renishaw says it can help businesses produce complex components while reducing material consumption, post-processing time and the cost of individual parts.
How the software is intended to work
Metal additive manufacturing commonly uses support structures to manage heat and keep a component stable during production. Those structures require extra material, add to build times and create more work after printing because they must be removed.
LIBERTAS is designed to reduce reliance on those supports by dynamically adjusting how laser energy is applied across a component. According to Renishaw, this improves heat management, reduces distortion and helps maintain build stability.
The company says the approach allows manufacturers to create more complex geometries, including features with more extreme downward-facing angles. It is also intended to improve the surface finish of unsupported features.
Renishaw says the resulting benefits include lower material use, shorter post-processing times and improved surface quality. The company said these changes could help manufacturers achieve a more predictable production process and reduce the cost of individual components.
Designed for existing Renishaw systems
LIBERTAS is integrated into Renishaw’s QuantAM build-preparation platform and is a software-based solution, meaning users do not need to make an additional hardware investment. Its licensing model is based on individual QuantAM seats.
The company said build files can be used across multiple machines, giving manufacturers greater flexibility as they increase production. Renishaw is positioning the technology for a range of industries, from low-volume, high-value work to full-scale serial production.
“LIBERTAS technology is an enabler, bringing metal AM’s benefits to a greater range of volume production applications,” said Benjamin Diaz, principal software product manager at Renishaw.
Diaz said reducing dependence on support structures and improving unsupported surface finishes could make previously unviable geometries possible. He added that the software is intended to improve throughput, reduce waste and decrease cost per part while using existing systems.
He said the platform was designed to improve efficiency from build preparation through to post-processing, helping users achieve more consistent results and greater operational control.
Demonstration planned in Frankfurt
Renishaw will demonstrate LIBERTAS at Formnext in Frankfurt from November 17 to 19. The company will be exhibiting on Stand C11 in Hall 11.
More information is available through Renishaw’s LIBERTAS technology website.
