XJet intends to showcase its breakthrough metal 3D printer at the formnext 2016 trade show in Frankfurt, Germany next month. The new machine uses the world's first direct metal inkjet system, which is likely to reduce the cost and time required for advanced metal printing. They haven't revealed their price, but it should be very competitive compared to other metal printers.
It is said that this large format XJet printer can produce high quality, high detail parts, and its printing speed is unprecedentedly fast. After the powder and laser are dispensed, the system sprays a liquid metal ink containing metal nanoparticles onto a build plate, and then builds the object layer by layer in the usual way.
The high temperature in the build cavity causes the liquid to evaporate, leaving a solid metal part. The quality of the parts made in this way is so good that you can hardly distinguish it from cast metal parts in terms of shear, tensile strength, and other mechanical properties. In addition, the process is cleaner than SLS printing.
In theory, the new XJet 3D printer will also provide greater consistency in terms of metal construction. XJet claims that their new process at design time will provide higher levels of detail, smaller margins and more freedom to play. Even with advanced metal printers, designers are sometimes limited by having to split parts into several pieces for design and printing. Complex prints often require support structures, and removing support structures increases post-production time and overall costs.
XJet's new inkjet method addresses these issues and will also allow users to create thinner exterior walls and more informative details. The supporting structure will be made of different materials, which will make the removal work simple and easy. The new machine should convince other companies to experiment with 3D printing to produce small batches of complex metal products and even advanced prototypes.
Xair Chairman Yair Shamir said, "Our breakthrough NanoParticle Jetting technology has been able to produce complex geometries with high levels of detail and perfect mechanical properties."
The new XJet machine may take rapid prototyping to the next level, or it may help additive manufacturing enter the production of end-use parts. Earlier this year, to implement this new concept, XJet raised $ 25 million in funding, some of which came from the Autodesk Spark Investment Fund. XJet has demonstrated this sizable 3D printer at the Additive Manufacturing Users Group Conference and RAPID 2016. So far, it has received a very warm response.
Hanan Gothait, founder and CEO of XJet, said: "We are very proud of our nanoparticle spraying technology, which is a milestone in the additive manufacturing industry. It is the result of our ten years of laboratory research and has more than 50 Registered patents. Our technology overcomes many of the challenges currently faced by the additive manufacturing industry, which will greatly benefit many industries. "