Desktop Metal, Inc. (NYSE: DM), a prominent player in Additive Manufacturing 2.0 technologies for large-scale production of metal, ceramic, polymer, and medical products, has introduced the ETEC Pro XL, a top-tier polymer DLP (Digital Light Processing) printer that comes to market at a significantly lower price point than its predecessor.

The ETEC Pro XL boasts an expansive build area measuring 249.1 x 140.1 x 165.1 mm (9.8 x 5.5 x 6.5 in) and introduces a host of valuable enhancements:

• It incorporates a 4K ultra-high-definition projector with a pixel resolution of 3840 x 2160, ensuring optimal build size and pixel quality.
• The device employs a premium 385 nm wavelength light engine that delivers a power density of 5mW/cm^2, resulting in faster layer exposure times.
• The implementation of HyperPrint™ technology enhances DLP print speeds further with features like a resin heater and a closed-loop sensing system, enabling continuous, isotropic printing with minimal pulling forces.
• Native XY resolution of 65 μm, with dynamic voxel resolution in the Z-axis, material-dependent, ranging from 25, 50, to 100 μm.

Ric Fulop, the company's spokesperson, highlighted the significance of this innovation: "Our ETEC polymer brand has maintained a leadership position in high-quality DLP printing for over 20 years, and the ETC Pro XL continues that legacy at an accessible new price point while delivering critical user upgrades. DLP remains a superior polymer 3D printing technology for speed, surface finish, and accuracy, which is why we have more than 300 Super Fleet customers around the world with more than three systems running around-the-clock production with our machines. Our average customer fleet size is six printers, but it is not uncommon for our customers to have fleets of more than 20 printers. The platform on which the ETEC Pro XL is based, originally known as the Perfactory and more recently known as the P4K, has been a major driver of these Super Fleets."

The ETEC Pro XL is currently compatible with E-Rigid Form Charcoal, a polyurethane-like resin with high strength and stiffness; HTM 140, a high-temperature molding material; and Easy Cast 2.0, a high-wax jewelry casting material. It is also backward-compatible with materials previously approved for prior models of the P4K and Perfactory upon request. Additionally, the system is compatible with third-party resins from reputable manufacturers such as Henkel Loctite (IND3843 and IND405™), Evonik (INFINAM ST 6100), and BASF (Ultracur3D® RG 3280).

The approved materials cater to a wide range of industrial, jewelry, and medical applications, including automotive and machine parts, aerospace components, housings, connectors, jigs and fixtures, microfluidic devices, castable jewelry patterns, short-run molds, fluid ducts, and prosthetics.

This DLP printing technology is renowned for its ability to combine speed and quality by utilizing a high-definition projector to rapidly cure one layer of resin at a time. The ability to control the curing depth of each pixel, known as voxels, significantly enhances the precision and surface quality of 3D-printed parts.

Desktop Metal's acquisition of EnvisionTEC in 2021 brought the DLP technology incorporated in the ETEC Pro XL into its product portfolio.

 

Source: businesswire.com

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