Focal point control in additive manufacturing

With additive manufacturing methods such as selective metal melting, the focal point control of the laser is crucial for the process speed and the quality. In order to determine the distance between the print head and the powder surface and to control the laser focal point, optoNCDT 1900 laser sensors are used. Their high measuring rate and repeatability enable fast and reliable distance measurements regardless of the respective alloy. Insensitive to ambient light, these sensors provide reliable measurement results even with high laser performance.