EOS is launching a new generation of plastic laser-sintering systems, comprising one new machine and two improved models.
The new Formiga P 100 is claimed to offer cost-effective and flexible entry into the world of laser sintering, enabling plastic products to be produced directly from CAD data in less than 24 hours. The machine has a compact footprint and a height of just 195cm, so can be situated in practically any production environment.
The build envelope of 200 x 250 x 330mm is excellent for economic manufacture of small batches and individual products with complex geometries, such as high-value consumer goods and medical devices.
A technical innovation is the ability to build vertical walls with high surface quality. The extremely fine focus diameter of the laser enables wall thicknesses down to 0.4mm to be created for manufacturing small, filigree components such as connectors, for example. The dispensing and recoating system has also been redesigned to increase product quality and reduce powder consumption.
The machine is easy to use and requires only a minimum of accessories. Preparation and control of the building process is conveniently carried out at the user's desk, so the Formiga P 100 lends itself to decentralised production.
Twenty-three parts of the Formiga P 100 itself have been laser sintered, from the filling hopper for the plastic powder to the switch cover, demonstrating the practicality of the manufacturing process.
Other innovations are the new Eosint P 730 and Eosint P 390 materials. The former is an advanced version of the P 700, said to be the only double-laser system for plastic laser-sintering. According to Florian Pfefferkorn, product manager at EOS: Depending on component geometrythe system is up to 40 per cent more productive than the P 700." Eosint P 390 also offers increased productivity combined with better surface quality.
For more informationvisit www.eos.info
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