Replies to post #1827 on Arcam AB fka AMAVF

[investorhub123]

I just find it hard to believe that GE is about to go into production with laser AM built fuel nozzles and EBM which is nearly 10 times faster, will have to wait another 4 or 5 years before EBM is used for production.
My understanding is that the metallurgical science behind EBM says it is "cast" like and has already been certified for the medical implant industry since 2007.
Lima will have 13 machines used for production by the end of next year and DiSanto who has 4 systems, plans to grow to 40 in the near future.

[monkeybuilt]

I disagree based on the following:

One, using the timeline you just stated, it ought to be ready soon then since the project started back in 2011 ;-)

Two, that was just the official government project. Arcam has continually been working to improve speeds.

Three, it's been stated that fastEBM technology will be working it's way into products this year. From what I understand, the 10K gun is ready. Although the gun is 5X stronger than the current 2K gun they are using, it will likely only be twice as fast as there are other bottlenecks and the chain is only as strong as it's weakest link. IOW...if the beam can only be on 20% of the time, you're not seeing all the gains. other components need to be updated to attempt to utilize that high power beam as close to 100% of the time as possible.

Improvements will continue to come with every generation. I look at it more like Moore's law. Improvements in software and the build chamber can have a huge effect. The problem is in investor interpretation. Many seem to think that fastEBM is a product that will be released all at once...poof 5X gain. However, if you listen to Arcam's conference calls, they never say that. They indicate that it will be evolutionary, not revolutionary. It's the hype and speculation that drives these expectations, not what Arcam has stated.

Here's something to think about: Assume a laser based system is capable today of printing 100 brackets per year and it's speed doubles next year, you would then get 200 parts per year. Now...if Arcam's machines can already print the part twice as fast today, and their speeds double next year, that's 400 parts per year. So where the laser example increases production capacity by 100, Arcam's would increase by 200.

The future is bright for Arcam.