Ahead of the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS), the largest manufacturing trade show in North America, some 3D printing companies are already spreading their feathers. Stratasys announced two new 3D printing systems ahead of the event and, now, EOS has unveiled a new direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) machine, the EOS M 400-4.
The EOS M400-4 is an upgrade to EOS’ largest metal 3D printing system, the M400, named for its build volume of 400 x 400 x 400 mm. Whereas the M400 features only one 1Kw laser for sintering metal powders into solid metal objects, the M400-4 has four 400 W lasers, and is capable of fusing powder within 250 x 250 mm squares with an overlap of 50 mm. At launch, the machine can print with EOS NickelAlloy HX and EOS MaragingSteel MS1.
The printer is meant to bring a new level of speed and productivity to the series as EOS and other metal 3D printer producers reach for the mainstream manufacturing industry. In some ways, EOS is catching up with competitors like Concept Laser, Additive Industries and SLM Solutions, all of which make multilaser systems.
The SLM 500HL from SLM Solutions has similar build volume to the M400-4 at 500 x 280 x 365 mm, while also featuring four 400W lasers. Whereas Concept Laser offers the M2 cusing, which is available with two 200 or 400W lasers, the MetalFAB1 from Additive Industries can feature up to four lasers. It should be noted, however, that EOS has licensed its technology to Additive Industries and is part of a cross-licensing agreement with SLM Solutions, perhaps making Concept Laser the real competitor here, as there are rumors that the company may soon be acquired.
Essential to integrating metal 3D printing into a production environment is effective quality control. The M400-4 relies on the EOSTATE Monitoring Suite, which includes the company’s new MeltPool Monitoring solution. The MeltPool Monitoring system measures light produced by the meltpool within the printer, while software automatically corrects data errors and generates visualizations and reports based on this data.
EOS has already found a customer for the system in Siemens. Andreas Graichen, group manager for the Finspang Additive Manufacturing Centre of Competence at Siemens Power Generation Services, said of the technology, “We chose the EOS M 400-4 system to bring our AM activities to the next level: from a small-scale single laser unit to a larger-scale multiple laser unit. By using a wider building platform, with the higher productivity it provides, and pairing it with a new handling system, new thinking in gas turbine design can be brought into the industrial workshop. The Additive Manufacturing technology provides us with the speed and efficiencies needed to progress in the energy industry's fast-moving digital environment. And as such makes Siemens a unique player in the field of highly efficient power generation technologies."
The M400-4 will make its official debut next month at IMTS, which runs September 12–17. If you’ll be in attendance, like ENGINEERING.com will, you can learn more about the machine from the horse's mouth.