Renishaw AM250 — Technical data

The AM250 is a compact metal laser melting system from Renishaw's first generation. According to the 2013 data sheet it builds parts up to 245 × 245 × 300 mm, or 360 mm high on request, with a 200 W fibre laser, a 70 µm beam diameter and layers of 20 to 100 µm. Its defining feature is the vacuum chamber: it is evacuated before the build and filled with argon, which allows reactive powders such as titanium and aluminium and keeps gas consumption low. A 400 W version followed later; the machine was succeeded by the AM400 and the RenAM 500 series.

The AM250 is no longer sold, but it is installed at many universities and development departments and therefore turns up regularly on the used market. Clarify laser power and laser hours, the condition of filter, protective window and recoater blade, the material history – titanium or aluminium require clean powder handling and explosion protection –, the available parameter files and whether Renishaw still provides service and spare parts. A practical plus: it runs on a single-phase 16 A supply.