EOS, a provider of integrated e-Manufacturing solutions in additive manufacturing, offers its EOS M 290 system, the successor to the EOSINT M 280, designed for the tool-free production of high-quality serial components, spare parts and prototypes. With a build volume of 250 mm x 250 mm x 325 mm (9.8 x 9.8 x 12.8 inches), the EOS M 290 permits flexible and economic manufacturing of metal components.
"EOS has incorporated proven elements from the M 280 system generation in the new EOS M 290, but at the same time, the EOS M 290 also expands our product portfolio for metal applications, quality management and monitoring," said Dr. Adrian Keppler, CMO at EOS. "This new system is designed to serve the requirements of our serial production customers. We have also created new optimization potential in terms of build quality for customers from the prototyping space." The EOS M 290 retains its central processing elements: process chamber, gas stream, process parameters, etc. According to the company, this ensures constant process behavior and in turn consistent component quality beyond the EOSINT M 280 and EOS M 290.
"The new EOS M 290 offers extensive monitoring functions both for the system itself and for monitoring the build process," said a company spokesperson. "This adds extensive quality assurance to the field of additive manufacturing. In particular, it makes the system attractive for industrial applications in the aerospace industry as well for medical applications." With the aid of EOSTATE PowderBed, a camera built into the process chamber monitors the powder bed, following powder deposition and exposure by means of still images. EOSTATE Base is designed to ensure the consistent monitoring of a range of parameters, including the position of the Z-axis or scanner, laser power, air humidity, temperature and pressure. EOSTATE LaserMonitoring measures the laser power throughout the entire build period.
Components and Accessories
The system is equipped with a 400 W laser which is characterized by its high radiation quality and stability of performance, according to the company. The EOS M 290 can be operated under an inert (nitrogen) atmosphere or under argon, which permits processing of a breadth of materials. These include light alloys, stainless and tool-grade steels and superalloys. "The EOS parameter sets ensure that parts can be manufactured with standardized property profiles, resulting in a broad spectrum of applications," said the spokesperson. "The EOS M 290 also has the EOS ParameterEditor to allow users to modify a range of exposure parameters for themselves. The tool also enables users to develop their own parameters for specific applications on the basis of the EOS parameter sets. These include laser power and exposure speed or strategy. A new version of the ParameterEditor is currently under development, which will also allow modification of layer thickness, inert gas stream, build platform temperature and skip layers."
User-Friendliness, Process Gas Management and Software
According to the company, the EOS M 290 is user friendly due to the new EOSYSTEM machine software, which allows intuitive and task-oriented operation of the system via a graphic user interface (GUI) which was developed especially for production environments. In addition, an operator assistant is included which guides the user through the program. "The new EOSPRINT Desktop Software allows jobs to be prepared and computed directly at the workplace, separately from the build process," said the spokesperson. "The job file can then be transferred through the network to the system, which can then concentrate fully on building the part. Due to the availability of offline job preparation, complex parts with large job files can be processed quickly. This in turn improves the flexibility of the application development process."
Process gas management has also been optimized, according to the company. "The EOS M 290 is fitted with an air circulation filter which itself is equipped with an automatic self-cleaning function," said the spokesperson. "This considerably increases the filter's operating life, which results in less frequent replacement. It also reduces filter costs."
The solution portfolio for the EOS M 290 also includes data preparation software, component handling devices and extensive services.
"We are listening to our customers, and the demand is part-cost reduction," said Andrew Snow, Senior Vice President, EOS of North America, Inc. "The new system provides that by offering a module design with standardized electrical controls to improve the overall serviceability. This system also reduces the recurring cost of operation by maintaining a reduced and improved gas flow in the processing chamber as well as an innovative self-cleaning, long-life, recirculating filter system. All of these elements serve our current and future customers' requests for a reduction in operation and cost-per-part expense."
For more information contact:
EOS of North America, Inc.
28970 Cabot Drive, Suite 700
Novi, MI 48377-2978
248-306-0143
info-us@eos.info
www.eos.info