11.09.2021
The ExOne Company (Nasdaq: XONE), the global leader in industrial sand and metal 3D printers using binder jetting technology, today unveiled the X1 Powder Grip, an ergonomically friendly 2-liter powder container that’s part of an innovative powder management system for the all-new InnoventPro™ metal 3D printer.
The global premier of the InnoventPro metal 3D printer featuring the X1 Powder Grip is slated for Formnext 2021, to be held Nov. 16-19 in Frankfurt, Germany. ExOne will have the system on display in Hall 12.0, D69.
The InnoventPro 3L is the world’s most advanced entry-level model for metal binder jetting — designed to take the easy-to-use features of the popular Innovent+ with patented Triple ACT advanced compaction technology and offer them with a bigger build area and the best speed and cutting-edge technology features of ExOne’s production-ready printers, such as the X1 25Pro® and X1 160Pro™.
The X1 Powder Grip is part of a comprehensive new powder management system for the InnoventPro. To load metal powder into the new machine, a user positions two easy-to-use X1 Powder Grip containers, which weigh about 20 pounds each when fully loaded with 316L stainless steel, into a powder hopper at the rear of the machine with an easy quarter-turn. After the powder release valve is opened, a conveyance system lifts the powder hopper from a loading position into the build area for recoating and printing.
The X1 Powder Grip is also designed to be seamlessly used for powder reclamation and reuse with an all-new depowdering station that pairs with the InnoventPro.
What is Binder Jet 3D Printing?
ExOne’s binder jet 3D printing transforms powdered materials – metal, sand or ceramic – into highly dense and functional precision parts at high speeds.
An industrial printhead selectively deposits a binder into a bed of powder particles creating a solid part one thin layer at a time. When printing metals, the final bound metal part must be sintered in a furnace to fuse the particles together into a solid object. ExOne now delivers high densities of greater than 97% for most metals, in line with Metal Injection Molding or gravity castings.
Binder jet 3D printing technology is viewed as a desirable and sustainable production method, largely because of its high speed, low waste and cost, as well as material flexibility.