Eplus3D, a Chinese industrial metal 3D printing technology developer, has reportedly ‘mastered’ the 3D printing of pure copper and copper alloys using advanced red-laser technology.
Copper has long posed significant challenges in AM due to its high reflectivity to red lasers and low energy absorption. Traditional red lasers often fail to fully melt copper powder – leading to defects such as unmelted particles, voids, cracks, and inconsistent layer bonding. Additionally, copper’s exceptional thermal conductivity accelerates heat dissipation – resulting in thermal stress, warping, and part failure.
Eplus3D has recently showcased multiple successful examples of meter-scale copper alloy parts. One of the standout achievements is the production of a φ1030×175mm CuCrZr impeller using the EP-M1250 system. This component boasts a 99.97% density and retains copper’s exceptional thermal conductivity – critical metrics for aerospace thermal management systems applications.
