News: Optoelectronics
17 May 2023
NUBURU delivers first blue-laser-powered area 3D printer light engine
NUBURU Inc of Centennial, CO, USA — which conducts research, development, design and manufacturing of high-power, high-brightness industrial blue lasers — says that in first-quarter 2023 it delivered what it claims is the world’s first blue-laser-powered area 3D printer light engine to its technical partner under a contract with the US Air Force.
The goal of this Direct to Phase II contract is to use the absorption advantages of the blue laser and combine it with the ability to project an image onto the powder bed using a Texas Instruments Digital Light Projector to dramatically increase the speed of 3D printing of metal parts. NUBURU delivered the light engine to its partner to integrate it into a 3D printer.
The speed increase is the result of using an image that is up to 30,000 times larger than the single spot used today while delivering the same resolution as today’s printers. This 3D printing architecture can be scaled to enable high-density materials to be printed at speeds of 100x or greater while dramatically reducing CO2 emissions. In a separate study, NUBURU has shown up to a 2.75 times reduction in CO2 emissions when printing stainless-steel parts compared with an infrared laser.
NUBURU says that its investment in these technologies has helped it to develop a robust intellectual property platform, including over 190 patents and patent applications. These patents broadly cover laser technology including certain IP that has been deemed classified by the US government.
NUBURU bolsters 3D printing IP
NUBURU strengthens IP portfolio with patents spanning 3D printing and material processing
