Metal 3D Printer
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July 16, 2014 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 3-12-1 Nakamachidai, Tsuzuki-ku, Yokohama Sodick Co., Ltd. Yuji Kaneko, Representative Director; President Tel: 045-942-3111 (Main number) Tokyo Stock Exchange Second Section (Code Number: 6143) A New Metal 3D Printer The One Process Milling Center Notice about the Development and Release of the Linear Motor Driven OPM250L Sodick has succeeded in the development of and will be initiating sales from October 2014 of the new One Process Milling Center, the linear motor driven metal 3D printer OPM250L. The OPM250L now offers the industry’s first one-stop solution for the entire metal 3D printer process by applying the element technology of the Sodick Group to precision parts processing and mold making. The OPM250L is slated to be exhibited at the 27th Japan International Machine Tool Fair (JIMTOF 2014) (30 Oct. Through 4 Nov. 2014 at the Tokyo Big Sight). Selling price of the OPM250L is JPY65 million (excluding tax) and Sodick plans on a production system that manufacturers over 60 units of the OPM250L annually. The product will be manufactured at the Kaga Plant (Kaga City, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan). ● The Aims of Development When adapting the mold making process for plastic molding products by metal 3D printer, 3D cooling channels and narrow deep rib formations can be positioned inside of mold, enabling facilitation of complex mold making that could not be machined in conventional machines. Manufacturing that makes use of this technology would achieve high performance through the interlinked development of software and processing machines throughout all processes of molded product manufacturing: e.g. CAD/CAE that simulate the placement of optimal 3D cooling channels, CAM that generate paths for laser lights and cutting tools, metal 3D printers that actually shape molds, and injection molding machines that manufacture plastic molding. However, in actual manufacturing practice, software and processing machines had been developed separate of one another. Since this necessitated the construction of separate metal 3D printer systems, not only was there no consistency between processes but a high degree of operational skills was (For Inquiries) Please contact the Sales Promotion Office of the Sodick Co., Ltd. Marketing Center at 045-530-2006. - 1/4

needed as well. Consequently, despite research departments embracing the new technology, those who did the actual manufacturing had found it difficult to integrate the technology. Sodick has built up know-how in fundamental technology and an impressive track record in linear motor driven high-speed milling machines with high precision and high quality, NC units developed in-house, and injection molding machines that make possible precision molding through Sodick developed mechanisms. The one-stop process and milling achieved by the newly developed OPM250L is a fully automated processing...

Employs the Sodick-developed NC unit LN2RP The OPM250L is a fully automated machine that faithfully executes NC programs created with CAM software. The NC unit LN2RP is a proprietary NC unit produced by Sodick developed specifically for use with the OPM250L to smoothly execute commands jointly with the CAM software. ●Features of OPM Laboratory Co., Ltd. and CAD/CAE/CAM In developing the OPM250L, the Sodick Group was joined by OPM Laboratory Co., Ltd., an organization that has been exclusively dedicated to the manufacturing business related to metal 3D printers for a decade. The two...

●For inquiries: Please contact the Sales Promotion Office of the Sodick Co., Ltd. Marketing Center at 045-530-2006. (For Inquiries) Please contact the Sales Promotion Office of the Sodick Co., Ltd. Marketing Center at 045-530-2006. - 4/4