No chambers. No powder beds.
One of the greatest things about a no-melt additive process for metals is that it is capable of making large parts. Two things make this possible: open-atmosphere operation and scalable equipment.
Since MELD is open atmosphere, it does not need to be contained like many similar technologies. Melt-based processes either have a container to hold metal powder or operate in a chamber that prevents oxygen from getting in while the laser is running. Either way, these containers automatically limit you in the size part you can build. MELD doesn’t need a powderbed or a chamber. Without these constraints, MELD can make parts as big as you want.
MELD equipment is also an important factor. Traditional equipment in machine shops, like CNCs and mills, have a lot in common with MELD equipment. These types of machines get bigger as needed. The same is true for MELD machines. Dream big, build big!
