LFAM – potential for your company

In the constantly developing world of manufacturing technologies, Large Format Additive Manufacturing (LFAM) offers a revolutionary solution for the production of large format parts. With its unique combination of additive and subtractive manufacturing, the ability to process a wide range of materials, and the high precision and quality of the parts produced, LFAM offers significant benefits in terms of efficiency, cost savings, innovation and environmental sustainability. In the following sections, we will detail these benefits and their impact on various aspects of manufacturing.

Production of larger components with LFAM

Large Format Additive Manufacturing is revolutionizing the production of large components. As the name suggests, LFAM enables the production of large-format components. These cannot be realized with conventional 3D printing technologies and milling processes due to the size limitations of the semi-finished products.

The high printing speed enables large parts to be produced quickly, resulting in increased production speed and efficiency. With LFAM’s ability to process a variety of materials, the production of large parts from specialized or high-performance materials is possible. The combination of additive and subtractive manufacturing in a single LFAM system allows for high precision and surface quality on large parts.

Increased efficiency through LFAM

Industrial large-format 3D printing is revolutionizing the production of components and offers an impressive increase in efficiency. The system combines additive and subtractive manufacturing processes in a single platform. It enables parts to be manufactured and finished in a single pass. This results in significant time savings in production and improved efficiency.

Another advantage of LFAM lies in the material savings. As the components are printed directly in their final shape, the waste that is unavoidable with subtractive manufacturing processes is eliminated. This leads to a more efficient use of resources and therefore also contributes to more sustainable production.

In addition, large format additive manufacturing enables greater flexibility in production. Changes to the design can be implemented quickly and easily, as the entire manufacturing process takes place in one system. This helps to further reduce production times and improve the properties of the component. It also allows companies to react quickly to changing market requirements and manufacture individualized products economically in smaller quantities.

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Variety of materials and flexibility

LFAM opens up new possibilities in the production of technical components. One of the outstanding features of industrial 3D printing is its ability to process a wide range of materials. From classic thermoplastics to high-strength composites and special engineering plastics – large-format 3D printing offers an impressive variety of materials.

This diversity enables companies to produce components with customized properties. Whether high strength, temperature resistance, chemical resistance or special electrical properties – by choosing the right material, components can be optimally adapted to their application. This opens up completely new possibilities in product development and enables the production of specific parts that would not be possible using conventional processes.

In addition, LFAM can also process recycled or bio-based materials, making it a more environmentally friendly option for additive manufacturing. This can help companies achieve their sustainability goals and reduce their environmental impact.

Cost savings and economic efficiency

Large volume 3D printing offers companies significant cost savings and increases production efficiency. One of the main reasons for this is the efficient use of materials in large-format industrial 3D printing. In contrast to subtractive manufacturing processes, in which material is removed, large-format additive manufacturing involves a layer-by-layer build-up that only uses the material that is actually required. This allows material costs to be reduced by up to 90%.

Another advantage of LFAM is the savings in labor costs. The high level of automation of the process and the ability to produce complex geometries in one piece eliminate the need for time-consuming assembly and post-processing steps. This leads to a significant reduction in working time and the associated costs.
The time savings also contribute to the cost-effectiveness of industrial 3D printing. The rapid production of prototypes and small batches enables companies to bring their products to market faster and thus gain a competitive advantage. In addition, long waiting times for the production of tools and molds are eliminated, which further shortens the time-to-market.
Last but not least, LFAM leads to a reduction in storage costs. As parts can be manufactured on demand, there is no need to keep large quantities of spare parts and components in stock. This not only reduces storage costs, but also improves the company’s flexibility and responsiveness.

Overall, Large Format Additive Manufacturing offers enormous potential for cost savings and increased efficiency in industrial production. Companies that use this technology can significantly improve their competitiveness and grow profitably in the long term.

Two employees talking in front of the machine

Innovation and competitive advantage

The technology of large-format 3D printing opens up new possibilities for companies in product development and gives them a decisive competitive advantage. By using LFAM, technicians and engineers can fully exploit their creativity and develop innovative products that could not be realized with conventional manufacturing processes.

A significant advantage of Large Format Additive Manufacturing is its ability to produce complex geometries and structures in one piece. This enables the manufacture of products with improved properties. Thanks to the design freedom of this new technology, companies can tailor their products specifically to the requirements of their customers and thus gain a competitive advantage.

Another aspect of innovation through Large Format Additive Manufacturing is the possibility of using new materials and material combinations. By using high-performance plastics, metals or composite materials, products with improved mechanical, thermal or electrical properties can be manufactured. This gives companies access to new markets and areas of application that were previously untapped.

Last but not least, the use of LFAM also helps to optimize product quality. Thanks to the precise control of the manufacturing process and the ability to produce components with very low tolerances, companies can significantly improve the quality of their products. This leads to greater customer satisfaction and a stronger market position.

Precision and quality:

Despite the size of the parts produced, the new technology enables high precision and surface quality. This is due to the subtractive component of the process, where excess material is removed to achieve the final shape and quality of the part.

In addition, LFAM also enables improved control over the internal structures of the part. Additive manufacturing can create complex internal structures and geometries that would not be possible with conventional manufacturing methods. This results in parts with improved mechanical properties and performance.

LFAM granulate with finished end product

Environmental aspects of LFAM

LFAM technology offers several environmental and sustainability benefits that are important to industrial companies.

Efficient use of material

Large Format Additive Manufacturing enables precise control of material application, resulting in only as much material being used as is required to produce the part. This reduces material consumption and minimises waste, resulting in a lower environmental impact.

Recycling and reuse

Our LFAM system can process recycled plastics. This can help reduce the need for virgin raw materials and reduce the amount of plastic waste.

Energy efficiency

LFAM systems are more energy efficient than conventional manufacturing processes from extruded semi-finished products, especially when producing large parts. This helps to reduce energy consumption and the associated CO2 emissions.

Reduction of transport emissions

The hybrid process uses less material due to the nearcontour printing, the energy consumed in transporting heavy and large semi-finished products is reduced.