EOS is introducing Stainlesssteel 17-4, a new powder for use in its Eosint M 270 direct metal laser sintering machines for rapid manufacturing
EOS (Electro Optical Systems) is announcing the successful market launch of EOS Stainlesssteel 17-4.
This material for Direct Metal Laser-Sintering (DMLS) is suitable for industrial applications requiring high corrosion-resistance as well as good mechanical properties – such as medical devices and components for engineering applications.
Stainlesssteel 17-4 is an industrially accepted stainless steel material. The composition corresponds to the European material number 1.4542 as well as to the USA steel classification 17-4 PH.
“Especially when realising e-manufacturing applications, our customers request accepted materials with series properties“, underlines Dr Michael Shellabear, product manager at EOS, when referring to the strategic importance and necessity of the new material. “Stainlesssteel 17-4 opens the way to new industrial applications for functional parts, small series, one-offs and spare parts. The material offers our customers solutions in every phase of the product life cycle, with which they can increase their internal efficiency and also their product quality.
The DMLS process completely melts the metal powder and therefore produces parts that are fully dense.
EOS tested the new material prior to the market launch with a select group of pilot users. In the meantimeat least 12 Eosint M customers are using itand their feedback so far confirms that laser-sintering is becoming an accepted flexible production method. Among the group is also The Boeing Companywhich used Stainlesssteel 17-4 to produce frames for foot-level lighting fixtures in the passenger cabins. The order was for re-designing the frames for 19 airplanes of an Asian carrier.
EOS Stainlesssteel 17-4 is available as a series product with immediate effect for Eosint M 270 customers. It adds to the material product range which EOS recently enlarged with EOS Cobaltchrome MP1. The next materiala titanium alloyis planned to be commercially launched in early 2007.
For more informationvisit www.eos.info
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