Rosatom Develops Russia’s First Domestic Metal 3D Printers
The enterprise TsNIITMASH, part of Rosatom’s Machine-Building Division, has developed two next-generation 3D printers capable of producing complex metal components. The technology opens a pathway toward import substitution in additive manufacturing.
Two New Machines for Industrial Metal Printing
TsNIITMASH has produced two industrial 3D printers designed for metal parts using selective laser melting (SLM). The first system, MeltMaster3D-550, is equipped with four laser-optical units and features a build chamber measuring 550 × 450 × 450 mm. This is the largest build volume among domestically produced machines, enabling the fabrication of large-format tooling components and spare parts.
The second system, MeltMaster3D-350VT, is unique on the Russian market due to its integrated build-platform heating system capable of reaching temperatures up to 800 °C. This capability makes it possible to work with advanced alloys that are prone to cracking under standard printing conditions. Such high-temperature regimes have been implemented in Russian-built machines for the first time.
Both printers are equipped with advanced real-time quality control systems. Monitoring includes powder layer deposition, thermal field distribution, and part geometry. Domestic software provides full control over technological parameters, from mechanical motion management to the prevention of emergency scenarios.
How Selective Laser Melting Works
Selective laser melting uses a high-powered laser to fully melt metal powder layer by layer. A focused laser beam fuses spherical metal powder particles in a precisely defined sequence, forming dense, high-strength, and geometrically complex three-dimensional components with high accuracy.
The method enables the production of parts that are extremely difficult to manufacture using conventional metalworking techniques. It expands the possibilities of design and process engineering, accelerates product development, and allows components to be manufactured according to customized technical requirements. Parts produced using SLM are often stronger and more durable due to the absence of welds and assembled joints.
Testing and Initial Deployment
At the first stage, the printers will operate in test mode at the AEM-Spetsstal metallurgical plant. The systems will produce tooling elements and spare parts for the plant’s core equipment. Following the completion of the testing phase, certification is planned, along with a transition to manufacturing larger components for key industrial customers.
The deployment of such systems lays the foundation for the development of digital passports for additive materials and components. This ensures full traceability of characteristics across the entire lifecycle of a part and creates opportunities for the development of digital certification within mechanical engineering.
Import Substitution in Additive Manufacturing
The development of domestic 3D printers is critically important for ensuring the country’s technological sovereignty. The production cycle becomes largely independent of imported equipment and foreign software support.
Within the nuclear sector, more than 30 organizations across different Rosatom divisions already use 3D printing in their manufacturing processes. The Additive Technologies business line acts as an integrator, coordinating collaboration among enterprises and consolidating competencies to ensure long-term operational resilience.
Expanding Use in Strategic Industries
Rosatom’s metal 3D printers can accelerate the localization of critically important manufacturing capabilities in Russia. The technology reduces production lead times and logistical risks when manufacturing complex components and simplifies equipment servicing and maintenance.
Equipping enterprises with advanced 3D printers expands their application across nuclear power, metallurgy, transport engineering, and the defense industry. The development of domestic additive solutions is becoming a key instrument for accelerating industrial modernization and ensuring technological independence from Western suppliers.
