More on this.
It's not just about raw power. Electron beams suffer from less reflection (as long as they are in a vacuum) so more of the energy gets transferred to the powder bed. As a result, watt for watt, ebm can melt more powder.
Also, lasers utilize mechanical aiming mechanisms while electron beams are controlled by magnetism so they can be aimed faster and utilize multiple beams to allow for heating several areas simultaneously.
While Arcam is getting a bigger gun (10KW) in the near future, the laser systems are also seeing some increased power and even multiple lasers (ie EOS has a 4 laser system in the works)
Laser based systems currently have a higher resolution and so are better suited for parts with internal channels and intricate detail. However, they are more prone to issues with voids and residual stress.
EBM is faster which is extremely important when it comes to production volumes. It's also less susceptible to voids and residual stresses and the higher beam power combined with better absorption allows it to work with powders that require more heat to melt. One alloy in particular is TiAl, which is a desirable alloy in the aerospace industry that is even difficult to cast with. Laser based systems cannot use that alloy.
I don't see the two as an either/or situation. Both technologies are moving forward and have different uses. Think of the technologies as screws vs nails. Sometimes you need a screw, other times you need a nail. Both have very bright futures and will continue to see huge demand.
One of the things I like so much about Arcam is that while there are several laser powder based companies out there. There is only one EBM powder bed based company...Arcam. They have a nice patent moat and which continues to grow with every generation of their technology.
Arcam has a monopoly at the moment. Monopolies are generally bad...unless you own part of one ;-)
Cheers!
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