EOS Presents New Metal Materials, announces joint venture with BESTinCLASS

By DE Editors

Shown is a laser-sintered metal blade before and after surface polishing.

EOS has announced an exclusive joint venture with Swiss-based BESTinCLASS, a company that has developed the micro-machining process (MMP). The company has also released new metal materials for its EOSINT M 270 systems, including EOS NickelAlloy IN718 and EOS Aluminium AlSi10Mg.

MMP applies a mechanical-physical-chemical surface treatment to items placed inside a treatment tank. Resulting from this agreement, FirstSurface Ltd., a joint venture between EOS and BESTinCLASS, will be the exclusive provider of MMP in the UK. Further exclusive locations in Europe are in preparation.

Benefits of MMP include:

•Surface finishes can be controlled selectively up to a mirror-like polish
• Costs and turnaround times are predictable and controlled
• Finishes can be reproduced to industrial standards for multiple parts
• Treated parts are free from contamination

In addition, part geometries are not altered, cavities can be accessed and the process can be applied selectively, according to EOS. Apart from that, the mechanical properties of the treated surfaces are not altered, hardening is minimized, and the process is approved for parts used in medical applications.

Metal assembly laser-sintered from aluminum casting alloy.

In related news, EOS highlighted a number of new materials at this year’s EuroMold 2009 last week. New metal materials for EOSINT M 270 systems include EOS NickelAlloy IN718 and EOS Aluminium AlSi10Mg.

EOS NickelAlloy IN718 is a nickel-based heat resistant superalloy that corresponds to the commonly-known Inconel 718 alloy. It is a precipitation-hardening nickel-chromium alloy characterized by having good tensile, fatigue, creep, and rupture strength at temperatures up to 700°C. It shows corrosion resistance and is ideal for many high temperature applications, and also possesses excellent cryogenic properties.

EOS Aluminium AlSi10Mg is the first aluminium alloy to be qualified for EOSINT M 270 systems, which opens up new application areas due to its light weight and thermal conductivity. Cast parts in conventional AlSi10Mg are typically subjected to T6 heat treatment including solution annealing and quenching followed by age hardening at elevated temperatures.

For more information, visit EOS.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company's website.