AconityMICRO

The AconityMICRO is a DMLS 3D printer from Aconity3D with a 100 x 100 x 150 mm build volume.

Specifications

Laser System: Single fiber laser with ~40 µm focal spot: among the finest available in any LPBF system; power is configurable for reactive and high-reflectivity alloys. Optics / Scanner: Precision galvanometric scanners optimised for a small working field (Ø100 mm) with minimal field distortion. Build Volume: Cylindrical Ø100 × 150 mm: designed for coupon studies, not production. Platform: Precision Z-axis requiring parallelism < 5 µm for sub-10 µm layer thickness; granite referencing recommended. Special Recoater: Vibration-assisted powder deposition: unique technology enabling use of ultra-fine powders (d50 < 15 µm) that would clog conventional blade recoaters.

Calibration

Vibration deposition system: Amplitude and frequency verified with optical layer inspection; powder dried (60°C, 4h) before each campaign. Laser spot (40 µm): Burn paper/beam profiler; spot roundness checked: every lens cleaning requires focus reverification. O₂ purge: < 20 ppm standard, < 10 ppm for Ti/TiAl; quarterly sensor calibration. Substrate parallelism: < 5 µm across Ø100 mm with precision gauge + granite reference.

Common defects

Powder agglomeration: Moisture or electrostatic charge in ultra-fine powder → drying, vibration amplitude correction, humidity control. Balling: Low VED or incompatible surface tension → DoE matrix for new material, reduce scan speed. Layered porosity (micro-CT): Unstable deposition or substrate unevenness → levelling recalibration, stepwise layer thickness reduction. Delamination in Ti/TiAl: O₂ > 20 ppm → strict purge protocol, leak check, sensor replacement.

What it is used for

Alloy development: New alloy systems with < 500 g powder per campaign: minimal material investment. Micro-medical scaffolding: Controlled micro-porosity for biomedical use, unachievable on conventional LPBF. Solidification physics research: Full parameter access for melt-pool and microstructure studies.