The first quad-laser metal system on the market, Nikon SLM^®500 can integrate lasers independently or in parallel to increase build rates by 90% over twin laser configurations.

• 500 x 280 x 365 mm build envelope

• Multi-laser (twin or equal)

• Dedicated material

• Automated powder handling

• Turnkey system includes part removal station

Nikon SLM® 500

The best performing, most efficient system in its class, the Nikon SLM® 500 is designed to ensure operator safety and lower overall operational costs. Machine operator and powder are separated through a closed-loop powder handling strategy that includes an automated powder sieve and supply. Designed for serial production, exchangeable build cylinder enables shortest possible fire to fire times reducing downtimes of the machine to a minimum. The patented multi-laser overlap strategy ensures consistent material quality.

Selective Laser Melting for Serial Production

Increased productivity is crucial for production-oriented machines, and the Nikon SLM®500 is available with two or four lasers operating independently or in parallel. With 400W and 700W lasers available, users have the choice of laser power matched to their material, with the option of increased power to build in thicker layers for further productivity gains. The machine provides a laser overlap strategy for efficient processing. Testing proves comparable density and mechanical property results in overlap and single-laser scan areas.

Permanent Filter Improves Uptime and Reduces Costs

The permanent filter module traps process soot in a sintered plate filter that is purged with gas. The waste material is coated with an inhibitor and stored in a bin for dry disposal, while clean gas returns to the process chamber, stabilizing gas flow to ensure part quality throughout long builds without interruption. The elimination of consumable filter cartridges increases safety while improving machine uptime and reducing costs. Operators no longer need to flood filters and waste management is simplified as controlled diffusion renders a standard dry material for disposal.

Closed-Loop Powder Handling

Paired with the Powder Supply Vacuum (PSV), the Nikon SLM®500 protects the operator from exposed powder and keeps material under an inert gas atmosphere throughout the powder-handling process. Our 90l tank makes pre-loading easy and paired with the sieves and transportation to the machine, is crucial for a safe closed loop powder process. Best in pair with the Part Removal Station (PRS).

PRS for Efficient Unpacking

The Part Removal Station (PRS) reduces machine downtime by allowing one completed job to be unpacked while the next can begin on the machine. Build cylinders with completed jobs are transported out of the Nikon SLM®500 for cooling and powder removal in an inert atmosphere. Integrated gloves offer full access to remove material without exposing operators to metal powder. A vacuum hose, located directly in the PRS chamber, feeds unused powder directly back to the PSV for sieving and use in the next production build.

Automotive Steering Knuckle from Hirschvogel Tech Solutions

• Machine: SLM®500 Quad
• Material: AlSi10Mg
• Layer Thickness: 60µm
• Build Time: 2d 7h 23m (Maximized Build Chamber, 1 Unit)

Hirschvogel Tech Solutions based the automotive steering knuckle development on an integrated approach taking the entire additive manufacturing process chain into account. This part combines a high level of development expertise in lightweighting, as well as in the application of designs based on bionics, achieving a 40% weight saving in the neck area compared to the conventional forged part. Production requires few support structures leading to reduced post-processing effort.

Cycle Pulley from DTI and Ceramic Speed

• Machine: SLM®500
• Material: Titanium
• Layer Thickness: 60µm
• Build Time: 21.5h (Maximized Build Chamber, 120 Units)

Cycling offers unique engineering challenges to optimize weight while maintaining resilience over the course of a race. In cooperation with the Selective Laser Melting experts at the Danish Technological Institute (DTI), the cycling innovating company CeramicSpeed developed a lightweight, yet durable pulley wheel used by professional cyclists for improved performance. Find out how the companies improved the quality of the parts while reaching significant weight reduction.

Nikon SLM® 500 Accessories

Permanent Filter

A byproduct of the welding process is submicronic soot and condensate, which can be pyrophoric by nature. The permanent filter module traps soot and condensate particles from the process gas stream in a sintered plate filter. The filter is purged with gas, the waste material coated with an inhibitor and dropped in a bin for dry disposal, while clean gas returns to the process chamber.

• Long-life filter ensures part quality throughout builds without interruption

• No changing of filter cartridges

• Reduced consumable costs

• Safer operation by avoiding loaded filter housing exchange

• Dry mixture waste disposal without hydrogen formation with reactive materials

Power Supply Vacuum (PSV)

The PSV features a 90l tank for pre-loading and storage of metal powder. The automatic system sieves material before transportation to the machine for the build process, collects overflow powder to be returned to the sieve during the build, and also connects to the PRS unpacking station for powder removal after completion of a build.

Part Removal Station

The finished build cylinder is transported out of the system. Cooling and removal of excess powder takes place inside the part removal station (PRS), so that the next build process can begin immediately.

Melt Pool Monitoring

Tool for visualizing thermal emission of the melt pool in the SLM® process. The system records the thermal radiation produced from the melt during the entire production process.

• Sequential output of thermal emission plot images of individual layers.

• Detect irregularities and defects in parts.

• Log and document build jobs in MPM-Files

Laser Power Monitoring (LPM)

Permanent on-axis laser power monitoring system that measures and illustrates nominal and actual power during the ongoing manufacturing process.

• Active warnings, highlighting spots with critical laser powder deviation.

• Documentation of the laser power for each scan vector over the entire build job.

Layer Preparation Tool

Tool to level recoater height and adjust overlap area. Enables reproducible adjustments to the recoating lip height, independent from operator, within 1 μm. Resulting in recoating and the laser exposure level consistency for each build job.

Recoater Cleaning Station

Developed to simplify cleaning, maintenance and installation work on the SLM®Recoater.

• Stable mount for maintenance
• Safe handling
• Station features 360° rotation for full maintenance access
• Drip tray included for easy residual powder collection
• Safe storage of recoating mechanisms
• Station Dimensions: 730mm x 310mm x 250mm

Recoater Brush

Provides a consistent powder bed over thousands of layers and beneficial for efficient job changeover. Brush durability ensures stable recoating while enabling error correction during the build.

• Haynes 25 or IN718, tested and approved for use with any material
• Testing shows brush stability at over 100,000 layers
• In the event of a collision with an extrusion up to 3mm from the powder bed, the bristles bend and do not break.
• Allows for correction of a build defect without damage to either recoater or part

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

The first quad-laser metal system on the market, Nikon SLM® 500 can integrate lasers independently or in parallel to increase build rates by 90% over twin laser configurations.