Prima Additive Inaugurated Laserdyne 795

Laserdyne® 795 is a machine equipped with Laser Metal Deposition technology, developed by Prima Additive and customized, considering the needs of the energy production sector, in cooperation with Enel, the main energy producer and supplier in Italy. Enel’s choice of a direct energy deposition machine has been determined by the flexibility of this solution, both in terms of production and repair. This type of application allows to reduce warehouse time, reduce downtime of a plant or parts of it, and to save money, allowing to repair and reuse the same component.

This innovative solution, together with expertise in the metallurgical and testing available in the Santa Barbara plant, as well as the experience in the field of design, simulation and operation, and plants maintenance, will constitute a new and concrete opportunity for Enel Produzione’s activity both in Italy and in the rest of the world, as well as for the other Group companies, contributing to excellence in terms of innovation and technology.

This tool, embracing the main concepts of Circular Economy, Industry 4.0, and sustainability, allows both to execute repairs and revamping on damaged components, and to create complex shapes and re-engineered parts.

Among the main characteristics of Laserdyne® 795, there is the laser head BeamDirector®, working on 5-axis, combined with a roto-tilting table, in order to allow the realization of parts using up to 7 degrees of freedom. This system allows two different deposition modes: the first involves the rotation of the part during the process, while in the second the laser head moves along the entire profile of the element. The working area is 1000x1000x1000 mm, an ideal space both for the need to repair large pieces, and for the construction of small parts.

The laser head has been developed specifically for direct energy deposition applications, and is equipped with four separate nozzles, which guarantee a uniform distribution of the powder at the melting point. Furthermore, the external powder supply system allows up to two materials to be processed simultaneously.

The main reasons that led Enel to choose a solution developed by Prima Additive were the size of the work volume, the 7 degrees of freedom that could facilitate the repairability of some items, and the possibility to execute complex shapes (original or re-engineered). Other important features are the adjustable power of the laser source, the open scan parameters, the customized cad-cam,  and the implementation of two separate powder adduction lines which, together with dust engineering aspects, allow a considerable development of the mechanical properties of the parts produced or repaired.

Source and photo: Prima Additive