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Green Laser Metal AM for Pure Copper Production | Addireen

TCT Shenzhen 2026  Addireen Reviews Five Years of Green Laser Development for Metal AM

At TCT Shenzhen 2026, Addireen presented a five-year review of its green laser metal additive manufacturing work. The discussion used the 500 W laser platform as a reference point, focusing on what its development has meant in practice for pure copper 3D printing.

The program started with a 500 W QCW single-mode green laser developed by Addireen’s parent company, GongDa Laser. Later continuous-wave versions were integrated into Addireen’s metal AM equipment. Their development has been assessed through laser measurements, machine operation, extended builds and inspection of finished copper parts.

For copper laser powder bed fusion, wavelength matters. Pure copper absorbs 532 nm green light more strongly than the 1064 nm near-infrared wavelength commonly used in LPBF. At room temperature, the reported absorption at 532 nm is approximately eight times that at 1064 nm. More of the laser energy reaching the powder bed can therefore enter the material, supporting controlled energy coupling and more stable melt-pool behavior.

This does not remove the need for process development. Optical alignment, scanning, recoating, powder condition, shielding gas and parameter selection all influence the build. Addireen treats the laser as one part of the process chain and reviews it together with machine records and final-part inspection.

500 W Single-Mode Continuous-Wave Green Laser

Operating Data Behind the 500 W Green Laser Platform

Output Stability

Measured RMS power fluctuation for the 500 W continuous-wave green fiber laser is below 0.2%. In a long metal AM job, this helps limit variation in the energy supplied to successive layers. The measurement is not a stand-alone quality guarantee, but it is a relevant input when maintaining a stable process window.

Addireen compares power data with the behavior of the complete machine. A build that runs for many hours subjects the laser to changing thermal conditions and continuous optical operation; these effects are not always visible in a short bench test.

Operating Hours and Installed Base

One 500 W laser has accumulated more than 25,000 operating hours. The record provides field data for reliability assessment, maintenance planning and further design work.

The 500 W platform has been installed in more than 1,000 units. An installed base at this scale provides feedback on laser consistency, equipment integration and operation in different application environments. That feedback is relevant when Addireen configures the light source, optical path and controls for metal AM production.

AddireenNow: China's Largest Metal 3D Printing Service Platform for Copper

Long Pure-Copper Builds

The platform has supported representative pure-copper builds exceeding 300 hours. Under the recorded process conditions, printed parts reached relative density of up to 99.9%.

Long builds place demands on more than the laser. The optical path, motion system, recoating system and chamber environment must remain within control throughout the job. This is especially important for copper thermal-management parts such as liquid cold plates, heat sinks and copper-alloy heat exchangers with internal channels, thin walls or densely arranged fins.

The M350G-series green-laser systems are used for this type of work. Their role is to combine the green laser with the motion, powder-handling and process-control systems required for extended builds and repeat production.

M350G-Series Green-Laser Systems Support Builds Exceeding 300 Hours

From a Laser Result to a Production Part

Under defined process and test conditions, Addireen’s pure-copper parts have reached relative density of up to 99.9% and electrical conductivity of up to 101% IACS. These results relate to the recorded build conditions and should not be treated as universal specifications. Part geometry, powder condition, build layout, layer thickness, process settings and agreed inspection methods can all affect the final result.

For this reason, a copper component is evaluated through the full manufacturing route: process records, machine condition and final inspection. This approach is used when moving from a development build to repeat production of thermal-management parts and other high-conductivity components.

AddireenNow provides a route from initial enquiry to manufacturing support for these projects. The platform is positioned as China’s largest metal 3D printing service platform for copper and supports quotation, engineering review, printing, post-processing and inspection coordination.

Pure-Copper and Copper-Alloy Applications and Industries Served by Addireen

 

The Next Power Range

The green laser program has progressed from 500 W to a 4,000 W near-single-mode continuous-wave green laser. Reaching this power range requires work across beam quality, frequency conversion, thermal management, optical-component durability and system design.

A higher laser rating does not automatically translate into a higher build rate or better part quality. The equipment, process parameters and intended material must be validated together. Addireen will use the higher-power platform to study where it can extend the practical processing range for metal AM.

The broader short-wavelength laser program is also being developed for precision welding, semiconductor packaging and related applications. Within Addireen, the immediate focus remains green laser metal additive manufacturing for copper and other highly reflective metals.

Green-Laser Metal 3D Printing Moves Toward Batch Production