ExOne has today announced a host of new materials for printing on its family of metal 3D printers. The global leader in industrial sand and metal 3D printers using binder jetting technology qualifies fifteen new materials ranging from metals to ceramics and composites. ExOne tested its new materials inhouse while also collaborating with some of its customers to qualify the materials.
This announcement increases ExOne’s portfolio of 3D printing materials to 21, including 10 single-alloy metals, six ceramics, and five composite materials. The company has further qualified more than 24 additional powders for 3D printing. These were tested in controlled research and development environments and include aluminum and Inconel 718.
ExOne has developed its 3D printing technology since 1996, a binder jetting technology that transforms powdered materials into dense and functional precision parts at high speeds. ExOne’s unique technology allows the production of metal components with little or no material waste. Its ability to print parts in high speed and volumes make it a sustainable alternative for metal component production.
“ExOne continues to make aggressive and outstanding progress in qualifying new materials for 3D printing on our machines,” said ExOne CEO John Hartner. “Qualifying a new material for binder jet 3D printing is complex work that involves optimizing how materials, machines, and processes work together. We would like to thank our customers and partners for their assistance in accelerating this important work, which is enabling more sustainable manufacturing and part designs.”
ExOne partnered with some of its customers and companies like Global Tungsten & Powders, H.C. Starck Solutions, NASA, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, SGL Carbon, the U.S. Army, the U.S. Department of Energy, the University of Texas at El Paso, and Virginia Tech to qualify its new materials.
ExOne has set its sight on the aerospace and automotive industry, believing that the ability to 3D print materials like aluminum at high speeds will have a transformative, sustainable effect on the industry.
ExOne has also developed material qualification protocols or guidelines to qualify materials for 3D printing. The guide distinguishes materials into 3 levels that recognize different degrees of material readiness for customers with different application needs.
These seven materials have passed rigorous ExOne tests over multiple builds and have verified material property data from an independent third party.
Metals: 17-4PH, 304L, 316L, M2 tool steel
Metal Composites: 316 with bronze, 420 with bronze, and tungsten with bronze
