Additive Manufacturing Technology Expands

Objet, EOS, Z Corp. and 3D Systems introduce new technology at Euromold

Several suppliers introduced new technology at Euromold this month that reduces costs and boosts capability for additive manufacturing equipment.

Objet Geometries of Rehovot, Israel introduced a new family of desktop 3-D printers (Objet24 and Objet30), starting at $19,900. The company also demonstrated advanced materials featuring clear transparency, high-temperature resistance and ABS-like quality.

Objet CEO David Reis says, "Our new family of desktop 3D printers is the first high resolution 3-D printer with a low price tag and exceptional ease of use - making it ideal for office printing and opening up a new world of opportunities for designers and engineers."

The new clear material means customers can print thin, transparent parts which previously had to be outsourced to service providers.

The photo shows an exhaust manifold laser-sintered out of EOS NickelAlloy IN625. Source: EOS

EOS introduced a new metal material, NickelAlloy IN625 and two new plastic materials: PrimePart FR (PA 2241 FR) and PrimePart ST (PEBA 2301).

"These new materials open up completely new fields of application," says Peter Klink, executive vice president global sales at EOS.

EOS says the new nickel alloy has high tensile strength, excellent processability and uniform corrosion resistance. It is targeted at aerospace, chemical, motor sport and marine industry applications. 

Greg Morris, CEO of Morris Technologies, says, "We are using IN625 with Direct Metal Laser Sintering to build complex aerospace parts for high-temperature and high-strength applications. The process achieves material properties that are comparable to wrought metals and far exceed casting."

PrimePart FR (PA 2241 FR) is based on PA 12 polyamide and has an 11 percent elongation at break, which is significantly higher than its predecessor material PA 2210FR. PrimePart ST is an elastomeric material that targets applications such as flexible fasteners, seals and buffers

Z Corp. of Burlington, MA showed its TZBuilder Ultra rapid prototyping machine that builds durable plastic parts, which it says rival injection molding's accuracy, material properties, detail, and surface finish, at one-third of the price of machines with comparable performance. 

3D Systems Corp. showed extra-large automotive parts, representing several Fiat Group development projects.

Doug Smock -- Design News, December 15, 2010

 

 

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