The ExOne Company, has announced a new #MakeMetalGreen™ social media campaign to educate manufacturers about the sustainability benefits of metal binder jetting technology.
Binder jetting is a method of 3D printing in which an industrial printhead deposits a liquid binder onto a thin layer of powdered particles, layer by layer, until an object is formed. ExOne systems currently 3D print more than 20 metals, ceramics and composite materials. Binder jetting is a sustainable manufacturing technology because it:
- Fabricates metal objects with little to no waste, offering a dramatic improvements over traditional manufacturing methods
- Enables all-new lightweight metal part designs, including those that consolidate many pieces of a product into a single unit, while preserving function and strength
- Produces parts that can make cars, trucks, airplanes and other equipment more fuel-efficient and also dramatically shorten supply chains, consuming far less energy
While other forms of 3D printing can deliver some of these benefits, binder jetting is unique among additive manufacturing processes because it can 3D print parts at high speeds and volumes that make a meaningful difference to long-term sustainability efforts.
“Now is the time for manufacturers to rethink how they manufacture metal parts, and take a new look at how binder jet 3D printing can make metal parts and products more sustainably,” said John Hartner, ExOne CEO. “One important aspect of sustainability is shortening supply chains. Our technology can consolidate several parts into one, eliminating extra manufacturing steps, and also reduce the need for parts to be shipped around the world for final assembly.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of de-risking supply chains and moving toward a decentralized supply chain, especially for critical parts. ExOne can work with manufacturers to ensure critical metal parts are prepared for 3D printing in an emergency and to help manufacturers redesign their parts for metal 3D printing in the first place.”
An Updated Green Look, Experience
Since its inception in 1995, ExOne has always been focused on the sustainability features of its core binder jetting technology, as reflected in the company’s green logo. Recently, ExOne also updated the design of the X1 25Pro™ and X1 160Pro™ production metal 3D printers to emphasize the sustainability features of its technology. ExOne’s two newest metal printers feature a charcoal metal body style, a stainless steel silver beltline, rounded corners and green LED lighting.
The new look is also featured in a virtual reality factory experience that ExOne will unveil publicly at the International Manufacturing Technology Show in Chicago Sept. 14-19. ExOne will be located in IMTS booth 433103, on Level 3 of the West Building of McCormick Place.
VR headsets are also being made available today for qualifying companies who wish to explore binder jetting in a life-size model. A sign up form and preview of the VR experience is available at www.exone.com/VR.
The new machine designs, which will serve as the standard for ExOne metal printers going forward, as well as the virtual reality experience, were developed in conjunction with Bally Design, an industrial design consultancy in Pittsburgh, PA that specializes in industrial design, user interface design, digital business models, and virtual reality.