Professional 3D Printers

The Israeli Objet developed the Polyjet technology in the late 1990s. With the Objet 24, the desktop series provides an entry-level model for just over € 15,000, -. Just beyond the reach of the enthusiastic prosumer, and not focused on this target group. Objet printers are all prototype machines. This makes the machine very suitable for educational purposes. The Objet 24 has a building volume of 240mm x 200mm x 150mm. One drawback is that the Objet 24 can only print in one piece of material. This material is delivered in cartridges that cost € 300 per kilogram. Objet has recently announced the launch of a new printer with a building volume of 1000mm x 800mm x 500mm, called the Objet 1000. This 3D printer, like Objet deConnex 500, can work with 120 different materials,  it can do fourteen prints in a single print. The price for the Objet 1000 is still unknown, the Connex 500 costs € 200,000, – excluding post-processing of the stations. Objet’s machines are mainly used in the development of consumer products so that they can be tested functionally. One advantage of these professional printers is that the multi-material printers can print both flexible, clear and strong materials at once.

Within the professional 3D print market, there are two parties promising full color 3D Printing, Z-Corp – now part of 3D Systems and MCor Technologies. The MCor printers use Lamined Object Manufacturing (LOM) and were previously omitted in this section. The printer prints sheets A4 in color and then a laser intersects the sheet in a 2D pattern. The 3D printer then glues the printed sheets to the underlying layer. This creates a 3D object. The main reason for the technology being mentioned is the recent announcement that Staples office chain offers a 3D printing service with MCor printers. The printer manufacturer targets the business model of the first 2D printers, including Xerox. The MCor Iris is the latest printer of the manufacturer with a building volume of 256mm x 169mm x 150mm. MCor rents the Iris – including material and service costs – for € 11,500, – per year.

Z Corp sells its ZPrinters in various formats.

The best-selling printer in the range is the ZPrinter 650 with a build volume of 254mm x 381mm x 203mm. The printer is sold with an integrated powder removal cab. The purchase price of the machine is € 45000, -. In the most detailed position, the machine can print with a film thickness of 90 microns. However, detail is not the main quality of the printer. Color, speed and relatively low material costs – € 0.20 per cc – are typical of the ZPrinter.
Both technologies are used exclusively for the physical representation of prototypes. Directly from the printer, the models are quite fragile, and deteriorate over time. However, various coatings provide protection and can counteract aging. The full color capability makes the technologies suitable for their own segment of applications. For example, engineers work with the technology to communicate with a customer or marketing department. Architects also adopt the technology.

There are currently three techniques commercially available for direct printing in metal. All these techniques are based on powder. In this case, a layer of powder is selectively cured with various differentiation techniques. In the building room, a separate atmosphere is created to prevent oxidation during the process. Non reactive materials are used in vacuum or nitrogen, and for reactive materials in an argon environment.
The two most commonly used technologies – Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) and Electron Beam Melting (EBM) and associated printers – are extensively compared in this presentation. The biggest difference between the two is the energy source, where DMLS uses a laser (light) and EBM of electrons for curing. With DMLS, the light is focused using optical lenses, and diffused with mirrors. There are currently more materials available for DMLS. The electrons are focused with the first magnets and deflected with a second set of magnets. EBM offers advantages in less complexity, efficiency and construction speed.

 

Where the SLS market is limited, there are several metal variants. Multiple licenses provide more parties to the market. In addition, the properties of metal ensure that investment in technology development is more attractive.
Concept Laser offers the M1 & M3 printers under the name Laser Cusing. Special to these printers is that they do not heat the building room, but completely heat the metal through the laser. This ensures better mechanical properties of the final product, similar to alternatives such as CNC milling. The printers of Concept Laser can also engrave. Renishaw offers – after acquisition of MTT Technologies – 3D printers under the name Selective Laser Melting, similar to DMLS.
The EOSINT M270 – for details see this comparison – is currently the most popular printer on the market. The machine costs € 430,000, – and includes full installation and associated equipment € 650,000, -. A major advantage of the machine is that the machine quickly switches between different building tasks, and that it is possible to print on existing models. The disadvantage is that – using a laser – the construction speed is limited, and that residual voltage remains in the material. Post-processing is therefore required, and further increases the construction speed. The variable cost of use – gas, building materials and finishing – is higher for DMLS than for EBM.EOS has recently marketed the M280 with a more powerful laser – which reduces residual stress – and a larger building volume. EOS offers – in collaboration with Cookson Precious Metals – a 3D printer specifically for the jewelry and watch industry, the Precious M080. The printer is specifically designed for printing in gold (18k) and has a building volume of 80 x 80 x 100mm.
3D Systems offers systems called Selective Laser Melting. Due to limitations in the field of medical regulation in the US, SLM system decline has unfortunately remained limited compared with Arcam and EOS.