Metal parts can be printed directly by connecting them to laser 3D printing equipment, which not only gives old parts a new lease of life, but also improves performance and longevity. This is not a science fiction movie, but a technological revolution in manufacturing happening all around us.

In 2020, BAOsteel Academia Sinica purchased a Laser near-net forming equipment LIM-S0402 from Tianjin LiM Laser Technology Co., LTD. (LiM Laser for short). Dr. Qiong Wu from ACADEMIA Sinica said: "At that time, I was planning a research project, aiming at the loss of functions of some key equipment in the factory due to wear and cracking in the process of use, I was thinking about how to restore the original functions and reduce losses by means of repairing them. In order to solve this problem, a series of research and comparison of surfacing, spraying, plasma repair and other technologies were conducted to select a Laser 3D printing solution. LiM Laser's near-net forming equipment LIM-S0402 was purchased through tender."

Dr Wu said: "First of all, laser 3D printing is more controllable in terms of energy and shape. Secondly, laser 3D printing can choose a wide range of materials; Third, the operation and maintenance of laser 3D printing equipment is also more convenient. Laser 3D printing has a large demand in steel application scenarios, and a lot of research and development work will need to rely on this technology in the future. In the laboratory, we mostly use it for design and simulation experiments. First, it is used to explore materials and study what materials are used to repair or strengthen. Second, it is used to explore technology and accumulate reference technology for large-scale production of physical repair. So far we have developed solutions to multiple field problems using the equipment and applied them to large production."

LiM-S0402

In the process of parts repair, the manufacturing cost of re-opening mold is high, and there is no need for mass production, so 3D printing provides a new idea for product repair. First through surveying and mapping, the establishment of the components of the three-dimensional model diagram, and then through the slice, design good print path, and stored as 3 d printers can directly read and use the file, will load the file to the printer, at the same time into the 3 d printing materials, debug print platform, set the print parameters, the finished parts of material processing.

Advanced metal 3D printing additive manufacturing equipment can be used to select the most appropriate processing technology according to the working conditions, material characteristics and production technical requirements of the processed workpiece, improve the wear resistance, corrosion resistance, oxidation resistance and thermal corrosion properties of the metal surface, repair the service damage and manufacturing defects of the metal surface. Realize the reliable connection of metal components that are difficult to fuse, weld and easy to deform.

LiM-S0402

LiM Laser has more than 200 employees, including more than 50 technology r&d team members, mainly from internationally renowned additive manufacturing equipment companies and a number of key universities in related fields. More than 50% of the team members have more than 10 years of product development and lean manufacturing management experience. The company has more than 70 core technology patents, and has obtained a variety of honors and qualifications such as national high-tech.

According to Dr. Wu, "LiM Laser attached great importance to our project. In the early stage of communication, the project leader communicated with us several times, exchanging many opinions on the civilian metallurgical industry market and 3D printing remanufacturing technology, from hardware installation and debugging to software operation demonstration. LiM Laser gave us professional and patient guidance. Through this process, our team was impressed by LiM Laser's sincere service attitude and established a good foundation for cooperation."