Arcam EBM Q10plus

The Arcam EBM Q10plus is an EBM 3D printer from Arcam with a 200 x 200 x 200 mm build volume.

Specifications

Arcam EBM Q10plus: Technical Specifications

Beam Source

Electron beam at 3 kW / 60 kV with MultiBeam technology for simultaneous melt pools.

Calibration, xQam

Patented Arcam xQam system automates beam calibration, reduces time from ~4 hours (manual) to ~15 minutes. Key improvement over Q10.

Process Chamber

High-vacuum (≤ 1×10⁻³ mbar); build platform preheat ~730 °C. Active thermal control.

Build Volume

200 × 200 × 200 mm (v2.1): 20 mm taller Z-axis than Q10 (180 mm), accommodating longer spinal devices.

Layer Thickness

50–200 µm; 50–100 µm typical for orthopedic lattice structures.

Automated Powder Cycle.

Calibration

Arcam EBM Q10plus Calibration

• Automatic xQam Calibration: run xQam at each production shift start and after cathode replacement. ~15 minutes for full volumetric beam verification.
• Vacuum Check: confirm ≤ 1×10⁻³ mbar before each build. Check seals during regular maintenance even though the powder system is hermetic.
• Start Plate Preheat: heat Ti-6Al-4V to ~730 °C with defocused beam. Inadequate preheat is the primary cause of delamination in thin-walled implants.

4.

Common defects

Common Defects on Arcam EBM Q10plus

Edge Swelling: contour protrusion. Cause: excessive linear energy or insufficient preheat. Fix: reduce contour pass speed; increase preheat passes.

Sub-surface Porosity: voids near the surface. Cause: inhomogeneous layer thickness from automatic powder feed. Fix: verify recoater; check for accumulations in powder system.

Staircase Effect: visible layer steps at < 45° angles. Cause: inherent to EBM due to coarser powder fractions.

What it is used for

Applications of Arcam EBM Q10plus

Well-suited scenarios:

• Serial orthopedic production: hip cups, knee prostheses, spinal cages with porous osseointegration surface; xQam reduces operating cost per batch
• Patient-specific implants, custom Ti-6Al-4V ELI devices in a regulated environment
• ISO 13485 manufacturers, closed powder cycle and xQam traceability facilitate validation.