Precision metal manufacturing, built for industrial production.
Powder Bed Fusion (PBF) is one of the most established and versatile metal additive manufacturing technologies available today. AltForm designs and manufactures PBF systems engineered for the factory floor: automation-ready, software-connected, and built to produce complex metal components at industrial throughput.
What is Powder Bed Fusion?
Powder Bed Fusion is a metal additive manufacturing process in which a high-powered laser selectively melts and fuses layers of metal powder to build fully dense, near-net-shape components. Each layer is deposited and fused in sequence, allowing the production of highly complex geometries that would be impossible or economically unviable with conventional subtractive manufacturing methods.
The technology is also known as Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) and Selective Laser Melting (SLM), terms often used interchangeably in industry and research. Regardless of terminology, the underlying process is the same: layer-by-layer laser fusion of metal powder in a controlled inert atmosphere, producing components with mechanical properties comparable to or exceeding those of wrought material.
AltForm’s PBF systems support a wide range of materials including steel, titanium, aluminum, nickel superalloys, cobalt-chrome, and copper alloys. Our blue laser capability extends this range further, enabling highly efficient processing of reflective materials such as pure copper and precious metals.
Why Powder Bed Fusion
Geometric freedom without compromise
PBF enables the production of internal channels, lattice structures, undercuts, and organic geometries that are not achievable through machining or casting. Design complexity comes at no additional manufacturing cost.
Material density and mechanical performance
AltForm PBF systems produce fully dense metal parts with mechanical properties suitable for demanding structural and functional applications across aerospace, automotive, medical, and energy sectors.
From prototyping to serial production
PBF is not a prototyping technology. AltForm machines are designed to support the full production journey, from first-part validation through to high-mix, low-volume serial production and automated manufacturing lines.
Multi-laser productivity
AltForm PBF systems are available in single and multi-laser configurations, enabling significant reductions in build time for production environments where throughput matters.
Blue laser capability
AltForm’s blue laser option delivers shorter wavelength laser energy with higher absorption rates on reflective materials, making it the preferred solution for copper, precious metals, and highly reflective alloys used in electrical and jewelry applications.
AI-powered operation
Every AltForm PBF machine is equipped with an AI-powered HMI and connected to our fleet management platform. Operators receive step-by-step guidance, parameter support, and predictive maintenance alerts, reducing the skill barrier and increasing uptime.
AltForm PBF Systems
Explore our full range of Powder Bed Fusion machines, from compact R&D platforms to large-format industrial systems designed for serial production.
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