The AMS 400 is Reichenbacher Hamuel Group's entry-level Selective Laser Melting (L-PBF) metal 3D printer, built around a 1 kW fiber laser and a 400 × 400 × 500 mm build volume. Unlike closed-ecosystem metal AM systems that require proprietary powder, parameters, and software, the AMS 400 is an open platform: users control the laser parameters, scan strategy, CAD/CAM interface, and powder supply. This openness makes it a fit for research institutions, contract manufacturers, and production shops that need to qualify their own material parameters — particularly for niche alloys, tool steels, and application-specific metal powders where the printer manufacturer does not offer a validated parameter set.

What does open architecture mean for an SLM printer?

Closed SLM systems lock the user into a specific combination of powder, process parameters, and build preparation software. Change one variable — use a non-approved powder, modify the scan strategy, adjust the support geometry — and the system may refuse to build, or the manufacturer may void the warranty and service contract. The AMS 400 eliminates these restrictions. The 1 kW fiber laser with an adjustable focus diameter (90–500 µm) gives the process engineer full control over energy density and melt pool geometry. The CAD/CAM interface accepts standard STL files processed through Siemens NX AM or Materialise Magics, and all machine parameters — laser power, scan speed, hatch spacing, layer thickness — are user-adjustable. The nitrogen or argon protective gas atmosphere maintains oxygen levels below 100 ppm for reactive alloys like titanium and aluminum.

How does the AMS 400 compare to the AMS 800?

The AMS series scales by build volume and laser count. The AMS 400 uses a single 1 kW laser over a 400 × 400 mm build area — suited for small to medium production batches and material development. The AMS 800 expands the build area to 800 × 800 × 500 mm and uses four 1 kW fiber lasers working in parallel, each covering a quadrant of the build plate. The larger machine targets series production of mid-size components where a single laser would create unacceptably long build times. Both share the same open-architecture philosophy, 200°C heating capability, and Siemens NX AM / Materialise Magics software compatibility. The AMS X variant offers customer-specific build volumes for specialized applications.

What materials can the AMS 400 process?

As an open-parameter system, the AMS 400 is not limited to a vendor-defined material portfolio. The 200°C build plate and segmented chamber heating enable processing of tool steels (H13, maraging steel), stainless steels (316L, 17-4PH), nickel alloys (Inconel 718, 625), titanium (Ti-6Al-4V), and aluminum (AlSi10Mg). The 30–150 µm layer thickness range lets the operator trade surface finish against build speed: 30 µm for fine-detail tooling inserts and conformal cooling channels, 90–150 µm for structural brackets and production parts where post-machining is already planned. The open powder handling system accepts material from any gas-atomized powder supplier meeting the particle size distribution specification.