EOS introduces M 100 system, EOSTATE MeltPool Monitoring and new stainless steel powder
November 17, 2015
Additive Manufacturing systems provider EOS has introduced the EOS M 100, a new compact system for Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS), at this year’s formnext exhibition in Frankfurt, Germany. The company, based in Munich, Germany, also announced the EOSTATE MeltPool Monitoring system, an add-on for its larger M 290 machines, as well as a new stainless steel powder.
The new EOS M 100 system for direct
metal laser sintering
The EOS M 100 is based on the company’s EOS M 290 in terms of process and component quality and is seen as a cost-effective entry into metal Additive Manufacturing. It features a 200 Watt fibre laser which due to its beam quality and performance stability ensures optimum and consistent processing conditions, the company states. This feature, along with a smaller laser spot with what is claimed to be excellent detail resolution, makes it possible to produce high-quality, highly-complex and delicate components.
“The EOS M 100 system impresses with the proven DMLS quality, and is also the ideal choice for those considering an entry into Additive Manufacturing. With its small build volume, which is based on a round build platform with a diameter of 100 mm, the system focuses on the cost-efficient production of small quantities. For example, the system can produce approximately seventy dental crowns and bridges in three hours,” stated Dr Adrian Keppler, Chief Marketing Officer at EOS.
The new system can currently process two types of materials, EOS CobaltChrome SP2 and EOS StainlessSteel 316L. EOS Titanium Ti64 is still in the development stage, and will be the next material to be made available for this system.
The company’s EOSTATE MeltPool Monitoring is an add-on to the EOS M 290 DMLS system and paves the way for complete part traceability as well as an automated surveillance and analysis of the melt pool during the build process.
“We developed this powerful, intelligent monitoring solution jointly with plasmo Industrietechnik GmbH, a global high-tech supplier of automated quality assurance systems. Our goal is to set a benchmark for high-end in-process monitoring for AM,” stated Dr Tobias Abeln, Chief Technology Officer at EOS.
The round platform can manufacture approximately
70 dental crowns and bridges made of
EOS CobaltChrome SP2 in three hours
The EOSTATE MeltPool observes the light emitted by the melt pool. Its key elements are two photodiodes located on- and off-axis, a camera adapter, a specialised signal amplifier and according spectral filters to separate process light from reflected laser light. The software offers automatic data error correction and real-time process visualisation and evaluation.
At formnext EOS also announced it is introducing a new metal powder to the market. The EOS StainlessSteel CX is targeted at mould and tool manufacture and offers an extremely corrosion-resistant stainless steel with maximum stability and excellent hardness.
Following the DMLS build process, the components made with this material can be easily machined and polished, states the company. The stainless steel is resistant to most corrosive plastics and dilute acids, making it the first choice for many demanding industrial applications. Due to its corrosion resistance, EOS StainlessSteel CX also reduces tool wear and maintenance costs.
