Domestic Laser Makers Stockpile Advanced Technologies, Poised to Power 3D Printing Breakthroughs — Panda3dp.com Visits BCX Factory

Following an in-depth interview with BCX, a specialist in laser solutions, Panda3dp.com came away with a clear impression: in the evolution of industrial 3D printing—whether for metals or polymers—the decisive breakthroughs will be driven by innovations in laser performance and optics.

From Supporting Role to Industry Driver

BCX’s lasers feature modular design and highly flexible customization. “We have mastered all core technologies and critical processes, achieving full domestic production of 3D printing lasers. Our products are genuinely independent and controllable,” the team explained.

They pointed to Seurat’s area-sintering approach in the U.S., noting that its core lies in optics. “We hope to collaborate with domestic metal 3D printing manufacturers to advance similar technologies here.”

Since 2015, BCX has partnered with 3D printer makers, shipping more than 10,000 laser modules. As part of Raycus Laser’s strategic ecosystem, it now commands a team of hundreds of engineers dedicated to additive manufacturing breakthroughs.

Vertical Integration: From Catch-Up to Surpassing

Backed by its parent company Raycus Laser, one of China’s earliest vertically integrated fiber laser enterprises, BCX develops pumps, combiners, fibers, and gratings fully in-house. This ensures both stability and cost control.

R\&D Director Li Yongjian stated: “Domestic laser solutions are no longer in ‘catch-up’ mode. In many respects, they have surpassed foreign products.” He attributed this to China’s fast-paced innovation cycle: while overseas firms might iterate every 1–2 years, Chinese companies now do so in as little as 6 months.

Application-Driven Laser Innovations

BCX has rolled out multiple series tailored for additive manufacturing:

1. BFSC Continuous Fiber Lasers (300–1000W): High stability (≤±1.5% power fluctuation), conversion efficiency up to 40%, and sub-10 µs response—crucial for speed and melt-pool stability.

2. BFMC Point–Ring Hybrid Lasers (500–3000W): Dual-beam designs balance high-density center spots with ring-shaped energy for uniform melting, reducing spatter and improving quality.

3. Green Lasers (100–500W, 530–534 nm): Optimized for copper and high-reflective alloys, with compact, low-maintenance designs ideal for integration.

4. 2 µm Lasers: For plastics, wood, leather, microfluidics, and non-metal additive manufacturing.

5. Integrated Subsystems: Lasers with built-in collimation, reducing external optics and simplifying machine design.

Overcoming the Industrialization Barrier: Stability and Consistency

As Li emphasized, “The real question is not whether you can print, but whether you can print consistently.”

BCX has built rigorous lifecycle quality systems, with 100% incoming inspection, full-process monitoring, and pre-shipment performance tests. Consistency of power linearity from 10–100% output ensures reliability across thousands of machines.

In mass applications such as shoe-mold manufacturing, yield must exceed 80% to avoid losses. BCX is helping partners stabilize outputs and build process databases to meet this demand.

Looking Ahead: Efficiency, Multi-Materials, and AI

BCX sees three frontiers for the future of metal AM lasers:

1. Greater efficiency and parallelization through beam shaping and intelligent energy control.

2. Multi-material and composite printing, addressing challenges in absorption and precision.

3. AI-assisted design, alleviating the talent gap in lattice and mold design while improving yields.

From Shenzhen’s Bao’an District, BCX is reshaping perceptions of domestic suppliers: no longer hidden players in the background, but central forces driving industrial 3D printing into scalable reality. With advances in stability, versatility, and cost efficiency, Chinese-made lasers are emerging as the true engines of industrial-scale additive manufacturing—propelling the sector into its golden era.