3D printer SLM FastForm FF-M420

Industrial 3D Printer with Four 500W Lasers for Serial SLM Printing

FastForm FF-M420 500W×4 is an industrial SLM printer with four laser sources of 500W each, designed for additive manufacturing of metal parts. The build area of 420 × 380 × 400 mm allows for multiple products within a single task or printing parts of the appropriate format. The maximum scanning speed is 10 m/s, and the forming speed reaches 240 cm³/h.

Advantages of FastForm FF-M420

• Higher productivity thanks to four lasers. The multi-laser system allows simultaneous engagement of four laser sources during the construction of metal parts.
• Fast formation of metal parts. The maximum forming speed is 240 cm³/h, orienting the FF-M420 for serial production and group printing of parts within a single build.
• Faster powder layer application. The LFPT technology combined with bidirectional powder application reduces non-productive movements between layers. The FF-M420 has top powder feeding and a flexible recoater, and for the configuration with four lasers and LFPT, a production efficiency increase of 300%.
• Coordinated work of four lasers. The Zero-touch dynamic seamless stitching technology is designed for dynamic coordination of scanning zones during multi-laser construction. This allows coordinating areas formed by different laser channels.
• Fewer regular replacements in the filtration system. The FF-M420 is equipped with a permanent filter with a resource of at least 30,000 hours. This system is designed for long-term operation during serial metal 3D printing.
• Faster preparation and launch of production tasks. FastLayer is used for data preparation and supports layout, slicing, and hollow structure creation with one click. FastFab is designed to manage the 3D printer's operation.

Four Lasers for Serial SLM Printing

Four lasers allow distributing the build between multiple laser channels and orient the FF-M420 for serial production of metal parts. The FastForm FF-M420 500W×4 modification is equipped with four laser sources of 500W each, operating within the build area of 420 × 380 × 400 mm.

The dynamic seamless stitching technology ensures coordinated work of the lasers. The system coordinates build areas formed by different laser channels, ensuring their precise combination during the simultaneous operation of four lasers on a single platform.

The maximum scanning speed is 10 m/s, and a high-precision digital scanning system with an encoder is used for laser beam positioning. The maximum forming speed of the FF-M420 reaches 240 cm³/h, allowing the printer to be used for group and serial SLM printing of metal parts.

LFPT and Bidirectional Powder Application

Faster powder layer application reduces time between consecutive laser melting stages. The FF-M420 is equipped with LFPT Bidirectional recoating technology, top powder feeding, and a flexible soft blade. The bidirectional system forms a new material layer during the recoater's movement in both directions, reducing the number of idle movements.

The combination of LFPT with four lasers increases production efficiency by 300%. This configuration accelerates sequential powder application and laser layer formation, which is especially relevant for serial SLM printing and group manufacturing of metal parts.

Protective Gas and Permanent Filtration

Nitrogen or argon create a controlled protective environment for SLM printing with metal powder. The FF-M420 supports working with both gases, allowing the selection of a protective environment according to the type of metal or alloy and the technological process. The permanent filtration system reduces the need for regular replacement of the filter element. The FF-M420 is equipped with a permanent filter with a resource of at least 30,000 hours. This system is designed for long-term operation of the printer during serial SLM printing of metal parts.

Software for Model Preparation

FastLayer simplifies model preparation for SLM printing, and FastFab is responsible for managing printer operation. For the FF-M420, FastLayer supports model layout, slicing, and hollow structure creation with one click, reducing the number of manual operations before starting the build.

The FastLayer platform also includes tools for pre-processing models, automatic support generation, geometry correction, and working with large data arrays. Multi-laser printing management functions allow preparing production tasks for systems with multiple laser sources, which is especially relevant for the FastForm FF-M420 500W×4 configuration.

Metals and Alloys for SLM Printing

FastForm FF-M420 supports several groups of metals and alloys for SLM printing:

• Tool steel. Suitable for manufacturing molds, dies, inserts, tools, wear-resistant parts, and production equipment elements.
• Stainless steel. Used for housings, fasteners, functional prototypes, and industrial parts where mechanical strength and corrosion resistance are important.
• Titanium alloys. Combine high strength, low weight, and corrosion resistance. Suitable for aviation components, medical products, and load-bearing parts with complex geometry.
• Heat-resistant alloys. Used for heat-loaded parts operating at elevated temperatures, including components of aviation, energy, and industrial equipment.
• Aluminum alloys. Suitable for lightweight housing parts, brackets, functional prototypes, and structures where weight reduction is important.
• Other metallic materials. Allow expanding the list of production tasks for the FF-M420 depending on the compatibility of a specific powder and SLM process parameters.

The build area 420 × 380 × 400 mm allows using various metallic materials for both manufacturing individual large components and group placement of serial parts on a single platform.

Industrial Application of FastForm FF-M420

FastForm FF-M420 is suitable for several areas of industrial SLM metal printing:

• Manufacturing molds and production equipment. Manufacturing metal inserts, mold elements, dies, and other equipment with complex geometry. The working area 420 × 380 × 400 mm allows placing both individual large components and groups of smaller parts.
• Aerospace industry. Manufacturing lightweight structural elements, brackets, housing parts, components with complex geometry, and heat-loaded parts from titanium, aluminum, and heat-resistant alloys.
• Consumer electronics. Manufacturing compact metal housings, fasteners, structural elements, prototypes, and other components of complex shape.
• Education and research. Conducting research SLM builds, manufacturing experimental samples and prototypes, and working with various metals and alloys to study additive manufacturing technologies.

Technical Specifications of FastForm FF-M420 500W×4

Laser System and Build Parameters

Powder System and Filtration

Equipment and Software

Order 3D Printer FastForm FF-M420

FastForm FF-M420 500W×4 is designed for serial SLM printing of metal parts in the working area of 420 × 380 × 400 mm and production tasks requiring a four-laser configuration. Order the FastForm FF-M420 on our website and receive consultation regarding configuration, technical specifications, compatible materials, supply set, and equipment launch conditions.