AZAR, a CFI/ORF-funded infrastructure, is a novel Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) system with innovative features designed and built by our research group. AZAR is equipped with a high-performance printing enclosure featuring a tightly-controlled atmosphere (i.e., O2 content regulation & continuous filtering) for effective processing of reactive metals such as Al, Ti and Zr alloys. The unit will be also equipped with a unique laser-based in-situ monitoring camera, LDD-700, from IPG Photonics.