3D Systems has announced updates to its metal Additive Manufacturing software and Laser Beam Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-LB) machines, as well as a new material, post-processing partnership, and workflow for polymer AM. By combining these with the knowledge of its Application Innovation Group (AIG), the company intends to help customers advance AM performance and productivity in the healthcare and industrial markets.
Direct Metal Printing (DMP) machines for healthcare, industrial and dental applications
The DMP Flex 350 Dual and DMP Factory 350 Dual are two of the latest PBF-LB machines from the company, both of which feature two lasers which are expected to reduce build time by up to 50%, thus lowering costs.
These additions to the company’s DMP portfolio maintain the advantages of the single-laser configurations, including flexible application use and quick-swap build modules (DMP Flex 350 Dual); integrated powder recycling (DMP Factory 350 Dual); and a central server to manage build jobs, materials, settings, and maintenance for round-the-clock productivity.
Additionally, the company’s vacuum chamber is said to significantly reduce argon gas consumption while delivering high oxygen purity (< 30 ppm). The DMP Flex 350 Dual and DMP Factory 350 Dual are expected to accelerate innovation for a variety of applications including medical devices, aerospace, turbomachinery, semiconductors, and automotive & motorsports.
The new DMP Flex 200 is intended for additively manufacturing high-quality, small, complex, finely detail metal parts. These specifications are said to make it ideal for dental applications including next-day removable partial dentures (RPDs), crowns, bridges, and implant bars.
The DMP Flex 200 features a 500 W laser source and a larger build volume (140 x 140 x 115 mm or 5.51 x 5.51 x 4.53 in) with a build plate clamping mechanism that eliminates the need for screw management inside the build chamber.
These machines are expected to be available for general sale in the first quarter of 2022.
3DXpert® 17 with topology optimisation, machine learning
Customers integrating 3D Systems’ DMP portfolio into a production workflow can also utilise the updated 3DXpert 17, available from Oqton. Through the acquisition of Oqton, 3D Systems intends to make its entire AM suite of software platforms available to the AM industry.
3DXpert is an integrated tool to prepare and optimise parts quickly, enabling quicker design for additive manufacturing (DfAM) in an effort to both shorten production time and increase part precision. Features available in the new version are expected to accelerate part design with higher yield and faster build times.
General availability of 3DXpert 17 is planned for the fourth quarter of 2021.
“We’re excited to be able to meet with our industry colleagues, collaborators, and customers here at Formnext and introduce new product enhancements in our additive manufacturing portfolio,” stated Dr David Leigh, CTO for AM, 3D Systems.
“We remain committed to investing in our core technologies that help our customers tackle the toughest production applications,” he continued. “As we approach the end of the year, we’re looking forward to the future with great anticipation and the realisation that we can’t accomplish this by ourselves. We see tremendous opportunities to collaborate with others in the industry to bring together our products and expertise – fundamentally transforming the solutions we provide to help change the world of Additive Manufacturing.”
3D Systems is showcasing these new technologies and solutions in its booth (Hall 12.1 D101) at Formnext 2021.
