Compared to plastic 3D printing technology, metal additive manufacturing (AM) is relatively young. EOS released the first commercial powder bed system in 1995. Since then, a handful of manufacturers have maintained dominance in the space, but, in more recent years, a number of new powder bed metal 3D printers have been introduced to the market with the potential shake that dominance.
In 2014, the Italian Sisma Group and German Trumpf Group embarked on a joint venture to create a new line of metal 3D printers. While Trumpf had manufactured directed energy deposition (DED) machines, together the companies developed powder bed systems. Sisma went onto release the smaller mysint100 in 2014 before releasing the larger mysint300 in 2016.
ENGINEERING.com reached out to Adriano Bernardi, product manager for the Additive Manufacturing division at Sisma, to learn how the company's powder bed metal 3D printers fit into the larger 3D printing ecosystem and into Sisma's vision overall.
Entering the AM Market
Adriano Bernardi, product manager for the Additive Manufacturing division at Sisma. (Image courtesy of Sisma.)
Sisma may now be the largest laser manufacturer in Italy, selling about 1,000 laser devices every year. With both Sisma and Trumpf as experts in manufacturing equipment, a proprietary series of metal 3D printers would give them both strengths in their respective markets. On the one hand, Trumpf could add to its line of laser welding systems with a powder bed series, making it the only manufacturer to have both DED and powder metal 3D printers. For Sisma, it could provide the opportunity to further target its existing customer bases and expand beyond them.
“Sisma is widening its range of 3D printers and is pushing to become the top player in terms of output quality, machine userfriendliness and post-process know-how,” Bernardi said. “Constantly involved in research & development, the aim is to improve and update its technological solutions, being able to provide an extensive range of material options (resin, metal) while covering very specific sectorial needs (industry, jewelry, dental, medical).”
From the mysint100 to the mysint300
In addition to the chain-making technology that gave the company its start, Sisma sells small-scale laser welding, cutting, marking and engraving machines that are particularly suited to the jewelry and dental industries. The mysint100, then, would fit nicely into the smaller end of the market, with a build area of 100 mm in diameter by 100 mm tall (3.93 in x 3.93 in).
The mysint100 was the result of almost three years of work through the Laser Metal Fusion project, and was finally released to the market in 2014. Just two years later, Sisma was able to amp up the size of its metal 3D printing with the mysint300, which features a build area of 300 mm in diameter by 400 mm tall (11.8 in x 15.7 in) and a more powerful laser of 500W.
According to Bernardi, the mysint300 takes advantage of the know-how already developed with its predecessor. “It is a user-adjustable system where each machining parameter can be set by the end user,” Bernardi said. “The patented tilting coater allows a notable reduction of the recoating time, thus significantly improving the productivity: a simple mechanism that ensures repeatability and stability of the process. Thanks to the removable cylinders, the powder recharge is fast and easy, while the cycle restarting time is lowered to its minimum. The circular shape of the platform prevents any dispersion of the powder, and the machine comes with a long life dedicated filter, which reduces the maintenance required.”
Bernardi pointed out that the mysint300 also has an automatic powder unloading process, which minimizes the manual intervention required when printing with the machine.
From mysint300 to myrev
While the mysint100 is clearly meant for smaller jobs, the mysint300 allows Sisma to broaden its market appeal with a larger 3D printer portfolio. Broadening that appeal further, the Italian company most recently announced the development of the myrev, a stereolithography (SLA) 3D printer targeted at the jewelry and dental markets.
Unlike any other SLA machine, the myrev features three revolving platforms, allowing it to print three different objects at the same time. The printer is designed to use either castable resins, for 3D printing models that will be cast in metal, or moldable rubber resins. With three rotating printbeds, it can do this with three times the productivity.
The mysint100 is on the less expensive end of powder bed metal 3D printers, but, with a price tag of over $100,000, it is still likely out of reach for small businesses. The ability to 3D print castable objects gives dental and jewelry firms a chance to incorporate 3D printing into their practices without the more substantial investment required of a metal 3D printing system.
According to Bernardi, these three printers are just the beginning for Sisma. In the future, Bernardi believes that Sisma will produce “new machines that will improve the building speed and reduce costs.” He also sees Sisma focusing on “a strong development of special applications based on precious alloys and a whole range of new materials.”
To learn more about Sisma and its 3D printing technologies, visit the Sisma website.