Frequently Asked Questions

PBLM stands for powder bed laser melting - XDM's designation for laser powder bed fusion. It is the same family of process that the industry also calls selective laser melting (SLM) or laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). A recoater spreads a thin layer of metal powder across a build plate; a fibre laser selectively melts the cross-section of the part; the plate drops by one layer thickness and the process repeats until the part is complete.

Compared with conventional manufacturing, the process removes the need for tooling, allows internal channels and lattice structures to be built without assembly, and makes it economic to produce complex geometry in small and medium volumes.

The range covers six platforms:

• XDM 120 - 120 × 120 × 100 mm
• XDM 250 - 250 × 250 × 360 or 410 mm
• XDM 300 - 300 × 300 × 410 mm
• XDM 420/500 - 420 × 420 × 500 mm or 500 × 500 × 500 mm
• XDM 750 - 750 × 750 × 500 mm
• XDM 2000 - 2000 × 2000 × 650 mm.

Because all platforms share the same software and process philosophy, a validated parameter set can be transferred from a small machine to a large one with limited rework.

Tool steel, high-strength steel, stainless steel, nickel-based superalloys, titanium alloys, cobalt-chrome alloys, copper alloys and aluminium alloys are supported across the XDM platform family. Within each family, specific grades are qualified together with a parameter set; the list of qualified grades is updated continuously, so please ask our application engineers about the alloy you need.

All XDM machines can build with a layer thickness down to 20 µm. A thinner layer reduces stair-stepping on inclined surfaces, improves resolution of fine lattice struts and thin walls, and gives a smoother as-built surface - at the cost of longer build time. Most production applications use 30-60 µm layers, with 20 µm reserved for fine features and surface-critical parts.

Laser configuration ranges from a single 500 W IPG fibre laser on the XDM 250 up to six 500 W lasers on the XDM 2000. Multi-laser machines divide the build area into calibrated fields with managed overlaps, and job preparation software balances the workload across lasers so throughput scales almost linearly with laser count.

Parameters are fully open. XDM IntelliProc® allows users to edit scan strategies, hatch spacing, laser power, speed, layer thickness and support rules, and to define custom scan paths. This is essential for universities, research institutes and manufacturers developing proprietary materials or thermal structures, and it is why XDM machines are used as development platforms as well as production tools.

Delivery includes installation, commissioning, operator training and process training. After commissioning, customers receive application support for design for additive manufacturing, parameter development, material qualification and post-processing routes. Machine service, spare parts and software updates are provided throughout the equipment lifetime.

Yes. Our application centre produces sample builds, feasibility parts and small batches on production XDM hardware. Every build is delivered with a process report so you can evaluate quality, dimensional accuracy and cost before making an investment decision.

For a machine configuration, we normally respond within two to three business days once we have the part envelope, alloy and annual volume. For a printing service quotation, we need the CAD file (STEP or STL), quantity, material and required surface finish; indicative pricing is usually returned within two business days.

Aerospace, tooling and mould making, automotive and transportation, medical and dental, energy and power generation, electrical and electronics, cultural and creative design, and education and research. Each has different priorities - weight, thermal performance, lead time or individualisation - and our application team is organised to support all of them.

Yes. XDM serves well-known customers in China and overseas. Equipment can be shipped internationally with on-site commissioning, and remote support is available for process questions, software updates and diagnostics.

Our facility is at No. 569 Fangqiao Road, Xiangcheng District, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China - in the Yangtze River Delta manufacturing region. Technical visits can be arranged through the enquiry form on the Contact Us page.