DAIHEN to Exhibit WAAM Metal 3D Printer “ArcBuilder 3D” in Osaka

DAIHEN will exhibit at the 29th Manufacturing World Osaka — Next-Generation 3D Printer Expo —, to be held at INTEX Osaka from Oct. 7-9, 2026. Its booth is No. 10-56, where the company will focus on ArcBuilder 3D, a metal additive manufacturing system that combines arc-welding technology with high-precision robot control. DAIHEN will also display sample parts and build-support software, presenting the system as a fast, low-cost manufacturing solution that can replace conventional casting and machining.

DAIHEN has outlined a path into metal additive manufacturing by extending its welding and robot-control expertise. Whether this adds options for producing large components has implications for process design at manufacturers that have relied on machining and casting.

The key point is that DAIHEN is not simply showcasing welding equipment; it is highlighting WAAM, which combines arc welding and robot control, in the context of 3D printing. ArcBuilder 3D builds up metal wire, unlike powder-bed or machining-centered processes, which use different feedstock and forming processes. Public information does not confirm the price, build size or production speed, but DAIHEN is presenting the system as “fast” and “low-cost,” suggesting it wants to position it as an option for making large metal parts as well as for prototyping. Related coverage by this newspaper shows that discussions of physical AI and robot mass production are moving beyond software alone toward linking physical equipment, manufacturing systems and field data. For example, [WAN launches full-scale physical AI R&D, seeks partners for construction-equipment training system “MetaTore+” as its first project](/en/news/wan-launches-physical-ai-research-4e1b5b) starts with a training system, while ugo deploys three “ugo mini” inspection robots at Renesas’ Naka Factory advances field deployment and data integration. DAIHEN’s latest offering differs in that it targets the metal-parts manufacturing process, rather than the underlying training-data infrastructure. In other words, the scope is expanding from AI that operates robots to robots making parts. In terms of its competitive positioning, WAAM appears suited to large metal parts, while accuracy and the need for post-processing can be points of discussion. The exhibition indicates that DAIHEN is seeking to use its strengths in arc welding and control to differentiate itself in the 3D printer market. Public information does not yet show cost comparisons with existing machining and casting methods or which materials and shapes offer an advantage, so the assessment remains limited. Points to watch include: (1) the sizes and materials the system can process; (2) its productivity for production use and the extent of post-processing required; and (3) whether it has actual customers or leads convert into business after the exhibition.

ArcBuilder 3D is a WAAM (Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing) system that builds up metal wire while melting it with arc welding. DAIHEN says the product applies the company’s long-standing expertise in arc welding and robot control to the 3D printer field. The exhibition will run from Oct. 7 (Wednesday) to Oct. 9 (Friday), 2026, from 10:00 to 17:00 at INTEX Osaka. DAIHEN’s booth is No. 10-56.

Japan already has a substantial industrial base around welding, machine tools and industrial robots. A system such as ArcBuilder 3D, which combines arc welding and control, is structured to make use of that existing base of components, equipment and maintenance expertise, a field where Japanese companies appear well positioned to bring their strengths to bear.