Innovent, ExOne's industrial-grade, laboratory-sized machine, allows for testing material properties, specifically in educational institutions, research laboratories, and research and development (R&D) departments at commercial organizations. Innovent is uniquely designed in that it balances a specific build box for the technical qualification of materials with a smaller overall lab machine platform size, when compared to other industrial-grade 3D printers.
"Innovent expands upon ExOne's lab machine offerings by allowing customers, whether they are educators or companies, the ability to qualify materials, an option not previously available in these types of 3D printers," said S. Kent Rockwell, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for ExOne. "ExOne is improving its laboratory solution to help drive the overall industrial sector towards increased experience with and use of binder jetting 3D printing."
Compared to the company's previous lab model, Innovent offers a build volume that is eight times larger - measuring at 65mm x 160mm x 65mm. Similar to the company's M-Flex™, Innovent's software and mechanical components incorporate ExOne's most up-to-date technology.
"Innovent was specifically designed to complement ExOne's larger machine platforms, so those who are using Innovent for testing purposes can easily migrate to the larger M-Flex and M-Print™ when they are ready for larger scale prototyping or series production," added Mr. Rockwell.
Innovent employs the ExOne approach to additive manufacturing, utilizing a print head to selectively dispense micro-droplets of specially-engineered binder into very thin layers of powdered metal. Within the world of additive manufacturing, ExOne is distinctive in that it offers solutions that are focused on industrial users and applications, and the Innovent is the latest machine to serve that market.
ExOne is offering Innovent as part of a complete system - also including an oven and furnace - at a competitive price point, opening a host of opportunities for the company as education and research-based customers can now more affordably use binder jetting 3D printing technology.
Source: ExOne