3D printing Technology is Advancing Quickly
3D Printing has been around since the 1980’s, particularly in rapid prototyping environments. But only recently has the process become popular. Many new materials, including some metals, are available; The speed and reliability allows low-volume 3D manufacturing, not only “modelling”.
The Right Tools
From the beginning, Kollmorgen has supplied the biggest brand names. We offer stepper motors and drives for standard-speed machines; And we offer servo systems for high-speed machines and for high-precision machines.
Kollmorgen recommends AKM servo systems for precision powder-bed fusion (PBF) machines such as direct-metal & selective laser sintering (DMLSTM, SLSTM); selective heat sintering (SHSTM); electron-beam & selective-laser melting (EBMTM & SLMTM). Certain direct-energy deposition (DED) techniques require ultra-precise positioning too.
Some material extrusion methods, such as fuse deposition modelling (FDM), might require high-torque-density motors such as the KBM or TBM.
Although servo can be used for any process, stepper systems are sufficient for the slower methods such as VAT Polymerisation (SLA™, DLP™, 3SP™, CLIP™); material jetting (continuous or drop); binder jetting; sheet lamination (UAM & LOM)
TBM Series: The Kollmorgen TBM (Torquer Brushless Motor) Series low-voltage dc direct drive frameless motor is designed to be directly embedded into your 3D printer.
KBM Series Frameless: The KBM™ series 120Vac, 240Vac, and 480Vac offers high performance, long life and simple installation in a motor kit that can be embedded directly into your 3D printer.
Powermax Stepper motors: Kollmorgen offers a wide range of standard sizes, constructions, windings and options including custom leads, shafts and connectors. And our advanced hybrid stepper motor technology is unequalled – incorporating large bearings, high-voltage insulation, large rotor diameters, tight air gap tolerances, and high-energy magnets and windings that other manufacturers don’t offer.
Powermax Stepper Drivers: Kollmorgen offers stepper motor drives with the versatility, ease-of-use and cost-effectiveness to suit virtually any stepper positioning application. With microstepping capabilities and no need for feedback systems, these stepper drives offer servo-like positioning with less complexity and a lower total cost. Our stepper drives are available for 120/240 Vac and 20–75 Vdc power input. With a wide output power range, they provide the features and performance required for your 3D printer
AKM DC Servo Motor: The AKM™ Series gives you unprecedented choice and flexibility, with the industry’s largest standard selection of servo motors and the ability to quickly co-engineer modifications to perfectly fit your application. Paired with the outstanding torque density and precision of our AKD Series drives, these servo systems provide the exact what you need for your high-speed 3D printer
AKD: We designed our next-generation AKD® Series with the versatility, communications, power and bandwidth you need to build higher throughput, greater precision and more capable features into your high-speed 3D printer. Pair the AKD with any Kollmorgen motor for unmatched performance!