Verne developing STROM SLS solution for high-performance powders like PEKK

Verne Additive Manufacturing Labs, a new company founded by a team with over 30 years of experience in AM, is developing an accessible high-temperature SLS 3D printing system capable of processing high-performance polymers like PEKK. The system, called STROM, will also be accompanied by the the SM-1, a sieving, mixing and powder transfer solution.

The upcoming STROM SLS solution is currently still in development—according to Verne’s roadmap, it is now working on the system’s software, firmware and machine design in preparation for prototype testing in September and October. If all goes to plan, the first production run of the new systems will commence in June 2025.

Despite the fact that the system itself is not quite market ready, Verne has provided a fair bit of information about the SLS 3D printer and its capabilities. For instance, the machine will have a build volume of 20 liters (220 x 250 x 400 mm) and has a build chamber that can be heated up to 380°C, exceeding the requirements for PEKK thermoplastic powders. Other features for the high-temp SLS system include a 40W CO2 laser (or a fiber laser configuration), IR camera temperature control systems, layer-by-layer image analysis and AI-enhanced strategies for scanning and laser power management.

The STROM system will stand out within the SLS market for its accessibility and ability to process high-performance thermoplastic materials such as PEKK, which has applications like metal replacement in aerospace, medical, energy, automotive, electronics and beyond. (The system will also be compatible with more standard SLS powders like PA12, PA11, PP, TPU, and PA6.) As Verne says: “At Verne, we firmly believe in the importance of spreading knowledge and technology, engines of innovation. The Strom project was born precisely with the aim of democratising the adoption of high-performance SLS printing, through the development of a printer with first-class features and print volumes compatible with those required by laboratories, research centres and OEMs.”

When the system is ready for market, it will be part of a fully integrated ecosystem that will comprise the SM-1 automatic powder management system for automated powder sieving and mixing, and Spengler’s IntegAM Vibroblast Air for automated depowdering and IntegAM SurfPro surface finishing solution. Notably, the Verne team, which consists of Alessandro Facchini (Process And Mechanics), Luca Veneri (Optics And Electronics) and Stefano Rebecchi (Software And Product Management), is also behind other enterprises including Spengler and Voxelsint. The team also founded Norge Systems in 2014, which developed the affordable Ice 9 SLS 3D printer.

We’ll be following the development of Verne’s STROM high-performance SLS system closely in the coming months and year, so watch this space for updates.