EOS, the German company for design-driven, integrated e-Manufacturing solutions for Additive Manufacturing (AM) is presenting the EOS M 400 at this year’s Euromold. A new generation system for metal technology, the modular, extendable platform gears additive manufacturing for application in industrial production environments. A number of factors contribute to this: The system can make large components, its productivity moves into new dimensions, and the level of automation is increased. In addition, the EOS M 400 delivers better quality assurance and is easier to use. The commercialization of the basic model begins in the spring of 2014, with the global distribution planned from the summer.
“EOS is pursuing a platform-based strategy for the metal technology and is able to support its customers from the research and development phase, through to series production. The EOS M 400 represents the key to the industrial use of Additive Manufacturing. The new system supports users not only in the context of its qualification for production, but also in actual manufacturing applications. We won’t be drawing the line at a single solution. We will be expanding the platform with successive performance modules,” said Adrian Keppler, Managing Director at EOS.
The EOS M 400 is based on a modular concept. It is initially available with both set-up and process stations. Within a year, an automated unpacking station will also be on offer. With this extension of the system, an exchangeable frame, including components and residual powder, is moved, following the build process, from the process station to the unpacking station. Here, the job will quickly be cleaned of all loose and excess powder by way of a clean-up program comprising rotation and vibration. The modular concept makes it possible to incorporate the unpacking station retroactively to expand on the set-up and process stations. Users thereby gain a future oriented e-manufacturing solution designed for application-specific, modular extension.
A further innovation is the volume of the building chamber, which measures 400 x 400 x 400 mm so that larger components can now be produced. The first extension to the basic model, with its corresponding processes, will initially be offered with the EOS Aluminum AlSi10Mg and EOS NickelAlloy IN718 materials for use in the automotive and aerospace sectors. Processes for further materials are still in the development phase, including both tool steel and titanium.
In the EOS M 400 the laser has a performance of up to 1,000 watts. It allows the use of new materials that require more powerful lasers. A new user interface with a touchscreen, developed out of talks with many customers, further simplifies the system usability. The complete handling has been optimized. Additionally, the filter from the air filtration system is automatically cleaned and has a significantly longer use-life. Both the monitoring and reporting functions have been optimized, for better quality control.
From 2015, EOS is planning to offer in addition to the EOS M 400 the EOS M 400-4 which will come with four lasers. While the single-laser version opens the way for the development of new applications, the focus of the multi-mode variant lies in achieving productivity increases of qualified production processes that have been already achieved for the EOSINT M 280.
EOSwww.eos.info
