XJet has announced the expansion of its material portfolio for metal and ceramic-based additive manufacturing. The new 17-4PH stainless steel material is characterized by high hardness and tensile strength and is expected to expand industrial applications in various sectors such as medical, aerospace, defense, oil and gas filtration, and high-precision tooling and manufacturing.
The introduction of 17-4PH enables a rapid production process through a novel soluble support material based on XJet’s proprietary NanoParticle Jetting™ (NPJ) technology. This support material maximizes design freedom and significantly shortens the automated manufacturing process of metal 3D parts, while further enhancing the leading surface roughness and accuracy of NPJ technology.
With XJet’s three-step process – printing, washing, sintering – and the high accuracy and smooth surfaces of NPJ technology, post-processing requirements are minimal, reducing manufacturing time to just a few weeks.
“The time and labor savings gained with XJet technology cannot be understated,” XJet CBO Andy Middleton asserts. “And that’s due to the minimal post-processing requirement. With the new solution for 17-4PH, support materials can be removed in down to six hours – a stark contrast to other AM processes.”
Another key benefit of XJet’s new offering is the ability to create complex internal cavities that are not achievable with any other technology, additive or conventional. This innovation enables pre-assembly, particularly useful for numerous medical device applications, and offers true design freedom
“Another radical advantage of XJet’s new offer is its ability to create complex inner cavities that no other technology, additive or otherwise, can achieve,” Middleton adds, “This innovation enables pre-assembly – particularly useful for a lot of medical device applications – and offers true design freedom. Where part assemblies are too demanding and time consuming for traditional technologies, XJet is the answer.”
The material properties of XJet 17-4PH stainless steel – high tensile strength, hardness, fatigue and corrosion resistance – combined with NPJ technology, which enables 50 micron accuracy, open up new opportunities for innovation and drive new applications.
“17-4PH enables us to effectively collaborate with industry leaders to produce cutting-edge end-use parts at unique designs, quality and speeds that their respective industries will not have seen before,” says Middleton. “By increasing our customers potential, we aim to reshape the way each industry approaches the manufacturing of complex pieces.”
Visitors to RAPID+TCT can see XJet’s 17-4PH stainless steel material and a variety of additive manufacturing solutions from June 25-27 at booth 2317 in the Los Angeles Convention Center, California.
Subscribe to our Newsletter
3DPresso is a weekly newsletter that links to the most exciting global stories from the 3D printing and additive manufacturing industry.
