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EOS M290 is an industrial 3D printer made by the German manufacturer EOS. It is based on the Direct Metal Laser Sintering 3D printing technology which is also developed by EOS.
This 3D printing technique uses a fiber laser for melting and fusing fine metal powder and creates an object layer by layer.
This 3D printer will let you build the most complex parts or functional prototypes with dimensional accuracy because of its amazing features and aspects that we will explore in this article.
Features
Without wasting any time we will directly jump on to the features that make EOS M290 so special.
Robust system design and excellent detail solution
EOS M290’s design is very robust in nature due to which it is able to stay stable even while printing a part or functional prototype that has the build volume equivalent to the maximum build volume that can be printed on this printer.
With the giant build volume, there is also the high-powered fiber laser source of 400 Watt that enables a high performance whenever the printer is in use.
The exceptional high beam quality of the laser spot and its excellent detail resolution makes this 3D printer an ideal solution for manufacturing highly complex DMLS components ensuring homogeneous part properties from part to part, job to job, and machine to machine.
Intuitive interaction management system
EOS M290 has an intuitive, open, and productive CAM tool EOSPRINT allows optimization of CAD data that makes sure a quick and easy job and workflow management.
The EOS ParamaterEditor module offers developers a large and open toolset that they need. This gives them a sense of great freedom for application-specific optimization.
For enabling the conduction of real-time quality assurance of all the production and quality relevant data, the printer offers a comprehensive monitoring suite.
EOSTATE comprises five different monitoring systems i.e. System, Laser, PowderBed, MeltPool, and Exposure optical tomography.
Reproducible part quality and broad portfolio of materials
Because of the high-power laser spot used in this 3D printing system, you will be able to produce parts and functional prototypes of excellent detail solutions.
These are parts and functional prototypes that consist of highly complex components with homogeneous properties.
Even the most complex parts with a high level of intricacies can be manufactured with dimensional accuracy.
EOS M290 offers 3D printing a part or functional prototype with the most extensive range of validated materials and processes available in the market.
It covers all your needs, be it manufacturing a part with high strength, high durability, or high flexibility.
Because of this, you can manufacture parts and functional prototypes that can find applications in various industries and applications.
Combined with this is the comprehensive monitoring suite that enables quality assurance of all production and quality-relevant data in real-time.
Specifications
Credit: eos
The maximum construction volume offered by the EOS M290 3D printer is 250 mm * 250 mm * 325 mm, including a build plate.
This 3D printer uses a Yb-fiber laser of 400 Watts power. It features an F-theta lens for precision options and a high-speed scanner that can scan up to seven meters per second.
The focus diameter of the laser inside this printer is 100 micrometers. EOS M290 can be operated with a power supply of 32 Amperes, 400 Volts.
It consumes maximum power worth 8.5 kilowatts, an average of 2.4 kilowatts with platform heating up to 3.2 kilowatts.
The compressed air supply source’s pressure is 7000 hexapascal and has a volume of 20 cubic meters per height.
EOS M290’s machine dimensions are 2500 mm * 1300 mm * 2190 mm and the recommended installation space’s dimensions are 4800 mm * 3600 mm * 2900 mm.
The printer weighs approximately 1250 kilograms. You will be able to 3D print with materials such as EOS Aluminium AlSi10Mg, EOS CobaltChrome MP1, EOS MaragingSteel MS1, EOS NickelAlloy HX, EOS NickelAlloy IN625, EOS NickelAlloy IN718, EOS StainlessSteel CX, EOS StainlessSteel PH1, EOS StainlessSteel 17-4PH, EOS StainlessSteel 316L, EOS Titanium Ti64, EOS Titanium Ti64ELI, EOS Titanium TiCP Grade 2.
The list of optional accessories with this printing system includes EOSTATE Monitoring Suite (EOSTATE Laser, EOSTATE PowderBed, EOSTATE MeltPool, EOSTATE Exposure OT), Comfort Powder Module, IPCM-M extra, IPCM-M pro, wet separator, and blasting cabinet.
Price
For knowing the exact price of this 3D printer you will have to request a quote from the printer manufacturer i.e. EOS.
First Impression
The complete printing system is delivered to you in two rectangular machines connected with each other.
The right one contains the closed print chamber that can be accessed via a door.
At the right of this printer chamber, there is a touchscreen user interface that lets you control as well as monitor various aspects of the 3D printing system.
The left one seems to have the laser source that is a very vital part of the complete 3D printing process.
As we have mentioned before, the high-powered laser source is able to melt and fuse powdered metal parts into dimensionally accurate parts or functional prototypes.
Setup
EOS offers a hands-on training program to significantly shorten your learning curve. This program gives you the required familiarity with this 3D printing system.
It will solve your doubts as well as expose you to various parts and their functionality inside the 3D printer. The intuitive user interface also plays a huge part in taking you and tour of this 3D printing system.
Apart from this, there is also the complete software system consisting of EOSTATE monitoring, EOSPRINT 2, EOSCONNECT Core, and EOSCONNECT Machine Park.
Going through each of these four will explain to you how the first one is a modular solution for seamless monitoring of complete production and quality-relevant data in industrial 3D printing.
It comprises four modules that can be used individually or in combination with each other.
The second one is an intuitive, open, and productive CAM tool for EOS systems that enables the assignment and optimization of build parameters for your CAD data.
Together with data preparation software like SIEMENS NX or Magics, the program offers an extensive additive manufacturing CAM environment for a smooth 3D printing process.
The third one is the connectivity solution for monitoring production because the systems of EOS are IoT capable they can be integrated via EOSCONNECT Core for which the company offers an open interface.
The fourth one can expand the capabilities of your EOS system. It can increase your productivity with EOS Web Apps and monitor your entire EOS machine park from anywhere in an intuitive dashboard. You will also receive notifications on machine status and print jobs.
Printing Type/Cost
DMLS 3D printing technology is one of the few 3D printing technologies that can directly create a metal part from its 3D computer model.
It is an advancement of powder metallurgy i.e. a metal-molding technology that uses heat pressure for forming powdered metal parts.
The working material for this 3D printing process is finely powdered metal typically in the range of 20 to 40 micrometers.
Depending on the particle size and shape limit the detailing in the resolution of the final part or functional prototype can be achieved.
The other factors on which this technology’s resolution is dependent are layer height and size of the laser spot.
Just like other 3D printing technologies the model is divided into many fine layers that are then printed one after the other for building the final part.
Printable layer heights are around the maximum size of the metal powder used.
The best part about building a part or functional prototype using this technology is that there is no need of using any support structures.
The remaining metal powder acts as a support to the part or functional prototype that is manufactured.
The basic process of this 3D printing technology starts from filling the hopper with the desired metal powder.
Then the printer heaters bring the powder to a temperature near the sintering range of the alloy.
EOS M290 uses an inert gas that protects the heated powder and then the part is built.
The building of the part begins with dispensing a thin layer of metal powder onto the build platform.
Then the laser begins its path for the layer by selectively sintering the powder into a solid. After this is completed the parts are left to cool down and the surrounding loose metal powder is removed from the final part. And then you can do the post-processing.
The cost of building apart by this 3D printing technology is very high than other 3D printing technologies.
However, it generally depends on the raw material that you are using for building a part or functional prototype, the geometry of that part, and many others.
Print Quality
Credit: eos
Parts and functional prototypes built by this 3D printer represent the quality of the part and functional prototypes built using injection molding.
The properties of the finished part are comparable to a part cast in the same material.
They are strong, functional metal parts and have good mechanical properties in all directions. EOS M290 has been able to print complex parts with high quality such as:
- Heat exchanger
- Additive manufacturing component for limited series DS 3 Dark Slide with extremely fine grids
- The filigree grid structure of the Hoet spectacle frame made from titanium
- A door handle frame with a titanium grid
- Euro-K additive manufactured micro burner for combustion of gaseous and liquid fuels
- Additively manufactured Liebherr valve block
Software
EOS M290 is compatible with EOS Print which includes EOS ParameterEditor, EOSTATE Everywhere, EOSCONNECT Core, EOSCONNECT Machine Park, Materialise Magics Metal Package, and modules.
Customer Support
For helping you out with any of the EOS 3D printers, there is a customer portal digital support available for you. You’ll find the support on demand for all your questions.
The complete technical team of EOS is ready to support you in every phase of industrial 3D printing. You contact them via email or phone.
The company also runs its own Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube accounts.
Parameters Influencing Buying Decision
Cost, print quality, speed, capability, practicality, and user expectations are some of the very basic points that you need to undergo before buying this 3D printing system and they are mentioned below in brief.
3D Printer Cost: The cost of this 3D printing system is very high than many other industrial systems that offer the same build volume, but seeing the quality of parts and functional prototypes EOS M290 can produce, it’s worth it.
3D Printer Quality: As said in this article, the quality of parts and functional prototypes manufactured using this 3D printer is par excellence.
3D Print Speed: The print speed is not slow, but is definitely average.
3D Printer Capability: You will be able to play with many 3D printing materials and manage them easily.
3D Printer Practicality: Because of extraordinary management software, the EOS M290 printing system runs totally smooth while the 3D printing process is on.
3D Printer User Expectations: This printing system is definitely not for someone who is not into professional 3D printing or manufacturing because of its high cost and capability of producing excellent parts and functional prototypes.
The Verdict
EOS M290 is an expensive 3D printing system that is capable of producing some of the most beautiful parts and functional prototypes that find application in many industries.
It has some of the most amazing features and an excellent management system for monitoring and controlling every aspect of the 3D printing process. So, if you are a professional in this industry, this is a 3D printing system you should be looking at.
