iAM3D Launches a 2.5-Meter Metal 3D Printer That Prints With Powder and Wire

A giant dual-mode metal system

iAM3D has launched the LPW Z2500, a large-format laser directed energy deposition machine built for aerospace, defense, oil and gas, and heavy engineering. The system stands out because it handles both powder-fed and wire-fed deposition in the same enclosure, using a built-in beam switch to flip between modes without reconfiguration.

The build envelope measures 2,000 by 2,000 by 2,500 millimeters. That is roughly the volume of a small shipping container, and it sits inside a sealed argon chamber. That atmosphere control lets the printer work with reactive alloys like titanium, Inconel, tantalum, and other refractory metals that would oxidize in open air.

What the dual deposition means in practice

Powder-fed DED produces finer features and better surface finish. Wire-fed DED deposits material faster and at lower cost for bulk infill. By combining both, iAM3D is targeting shops that want one machine to handle prototyping, repair, and full-scale production without buying separate systems.

The machine uses a high-power fiber laser and refined material delivery to keep deposition rates high across both modes. iAM3D also included a monitoring suite with high-dynamic-range melt-pool imaging, pyrometer feedback, and live process diagnostics. Those systems are meant to keep metallurgical quality consistent from one build to the next.

Software and process support

Machine learning software and a built-in process library are part of the package. iAM3D says the system can process any metal AM alloy available in powder or wire form, with primary focus on titanium, nickel, and refractory alloys. The company is positioning the LPW Z2500 for space-tech, defense, and heavy-industry customers who need large, flight-ready metal parts.

The launch comes amid growing investment in large-format metal AM. The US Air Force recently awarded 3D Systems an additional $9 million for a large-format metal printer program, and Snowbird Technologies ran 316L parts aboard the USS Essex during RIMPAC 2026. The LPW Z2500 enters that market as a multi-process alternative to single-mode systems.