Eos introduces M 400 Additive Manufacturing machine for metal sector
December 17, 2013
EOS GmbH has announced a new machine for production of metal parts made by the Additive Manufacturing (AM) processes. The company’s new EOS M 400 will enable the manufacture of larger components and increases the level of automation still further. Commercialisation of the basic model begins in the spring of 2014, with the global distribution planned from the summer.
The EOS M 400 is based on a modular concept and 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 to the unpacking station. From there the component will be quickly cleaned of all loose and excess powder by way of a clean-up program comprising rotation and vibration.
A further development of the EOS M 400 is the size of the building chamber, which measures 400 x 400 x 400 mm so that larger components can now be produced. The first systems will initially be offered with the EOS Aluminum AlSi10Mg and EOS NickelAlloy IN718 materials and will be particularly suited for use in the automobile and aerospace sectors. Processes for further materials are still in the development phase, including both tool steel and titanium.
An oil separator for a racing car built in an EOS M 400
from EOS Aluminium AlSi10Mg powder
The EOS M 400 laser has a performance of up to 1,000 watts, allowing the use of new materials that require more powerful lasers. From 2015, EOS is planning to also offer 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.
“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 the series production. The EOS M 400 represents the key to the industrial series utilisation of Additive Manufacturing. If the EOSINT M 270 and EOSINT M 280 models have set the technical benchmarks, then the EOS M 400 takes these a step further. 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,” stated Adrian Keppler, Managing Director at EOS.
