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EOS brings very fine laser build powders to the UK
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EOS brings very fine laser build powders to the UK
F
ollowing their decision to establish a British operation in Warwick earlier this year, Munich-based EOS Electro Optical Systems has introduced very fine-grained metal powders to the UK market. The new powders are capable of forming 20-micron laser-sintered layers when using the company's EOSINT M rapid manufacturing machines. They complement the existing range of 50-micron powders and enable the production of metal prototypes or tooling moulds that are stronger, have greater detail resolution and a better surface finish.
DirectMetal 20 is a bronze-based powder, while DirectSteel produces sintered steel parts directly from a CAD model. Components can be welded, machines, shot-peened polished or coated, if required. Applications of the 20-micron bronze powder include production of functional metal prototypes and injection moulding tooling suitable for production runs of at least some tens of thousands of thermoplastic components. The improved surface finish reduces the amount of hand polishing needed and the higher density results in sealed surfaces.
DirectMetal 50, by comparison, has a porous surface that can be used to advantage in making self-venting tooling and allows optional infiltration with epoxy resin. The 20-Micron DirectSteel enables heavy-duty plastic injection moulds and inserts to be produced, capable of tool life up to and above 100 000 parts. Die-casting moulds sintered from the powder are suitable for small series production of light alloy components up to a few thousand parts. Typical parts built by EOS systems are produced by a skin-and-core strategy, sometimes with an inner and outer skin. Parameters for both the new powders are 20 microns layer thickness for the skin with 60 micron for the core. However, for faster build rates the skin and core may be 40 and 80 microns respectively, or 60 microns each. Founded in 1989, the worldwide EOS operation generates an annual turnover of around 40 million. Yearon-year growth since 1997 has been 30 per cent.
TRANSCAT GmbH took only 16 hours to build the core and cavity of an injection mould for producing these thin-walled fan wheels in polyamide 6 and glass fibre using DirectMetal 20 in an EOSINT M250 Xtended laser-sintering system.
metal-powder.net
September 2003 MPR
13
EOS brings very fine laser build powders to the UK
F
ollowing their decision to establish a British operation in Warwick earlier this year, Munich-based EOS Electro Optical Systems has introduced very fine-grained metal powders to the UK market. The new powders are capable of forming 20-micron laser-sintered layers when using the company's EOSINT M rapid manufacturing machines. They complement the existing range of 50-micron powders and enable the production of metal prototypes or tooling moulds that are stronger, have greater detail resolution and a better surface finish.
DirectMetal 20 is a bronze-based powder, while DirectSteel produces sintered steel parts directly from a CAD model. Components can be welded, machines, shot-peened polished or coated, if required. Applications of the 20-micron bronze powder include production of functional metal prototypes and injection moulding tooling suitable for production runs of at least some tens of thousands of thermoplastic components. The improved surface finish reduces the amount of hand polishing needed and the higher density results in sealed surfaces.
DirectMetal 50, by comparison, has a porous surface that can be used to advantage in making self-venting tooling and allows optional infiltration with epoxy resin. The 20-Micron DirectSteel enables heavy-duty plastic injection moulds and inserts to be produced, capable of tool life up to and above 100 000 parts. Die-casting moulds sintered from the powder are suitable for small series production of light alloy components up to a few thousand parts. Typical parts built by EOS systems are produced by a skin-and-core strategy, sometimes with an inner and outer skin. Parameters for both the new powders are 20 microns layer thickness for the skin with 60 micron for the core. However, for faster build rates the skin and core may be 40 and 80 microns respectively, or 60 microns each. Founded in 1989, the worldwide EOS operation generates an annual turnover of around 40 million. Yearon-year growth since 1997 has been 30 per cent.
TRANSCAT GmbH took only 16 hours to build the core and cavity of an injection mould for producing these thin-walled fan wheels in polyamide 6 and glass fibre using DirectMetal 20 in an EOSINT M250 Xtended laser-sintering system.
metal-powder.net
September 2003 MPR
13