This 6061 aluminum engine block model demonstrates the high resolution and geometric control that can be produced in the new binder jet 3D printing and sintering process developed by ExOne and Ford Motor Company (Photo: Business Wire)

This 6061 aluminum engine block model demonstrates the high resolution and geometric control that can be produced in the new binder jet 3D printing and sintering process developed by ExOne and Ford Motor Company (Photo: Business Wire)

This image shows the microstructure of a 6061 aluminum part after 3D printing and sintering with a binder jet. The non-porosity, isotropic, and relatively small grain size shown here are ideal and comparable to the traditional 6061 microstructure in the as-cast or forged state. (Photo: Business Wire)

North Huntington, Pennsylvania--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ExOne Corporation (NASDAQ: XONE), a global leader in industrial sand and metal 3D printers using binder jet technology, announced today that 6061 aluminum alloy has become Customer approved materials cooperate with Ford Motor Company.

A new patent-pending binder jet 3D printing and sintering material process provides fast and reproducible results: 99% density and material properties are comparable to die casting. Due to the ongoing project, Ford and ExOne are expected to submit additional cooperation and personal patents. For details, see today's simultaneous announcement.

Rick Lucas, Chief Technology Officer and Vice President of New Markets at ExOne, said: “For many years, people have been skeptical about the viability of binder jet 3D printing and aluminum sintering.” For more than a decade, manufacturers in other technology fields have been working hard in this field. Provide commercially feasible solutions. But at ExOne, we are proud to work with our customers to solve the toughest challenges. We believe that this innovation will help provide lighter products and sustainable advantages, which will have a broad impact on a wide range of products. "

To date, ExOne has certified 23 metal, ceramic and sand materials for use in its industrial adhesive jet printers. After the addition of aluminum, it now includes 12 single alloy metals. Titanium is now working with a global medical device company to quickly obtain qualification certification.

Since ExOne technology can 3D print almost any powder, the company has a layered material identification system to indicate that parts 3D printed using its technology will provide different levels of material property results. These levels can help manufacturing customers understand whether ExOne adhesive jetting technology can meet their specific application needs:

Additional information about aluminum binder injection

Whether using traditional 3D manufacturing technology or additive manufacturing technology, shaping aluminum alloys into lightweight designs using today's manufacturing technology is a challenge. Generally speaking, the higher the strength of the aluminum alloy, the more challenging and costly forming parts are.

For a long time, 3D printing has been seen as a potential way to simplify material manufacturing, but engineers have been working for more than a decade to provide a commercially viable way to sinter materials when using a binder jet-the fastest way to 3D printing And ideal choice for maximum capacity output. Laser-based 3D printing methods can provide aluminum, but these processes are considered too slow for mass production.

Binder jetting is a 3D printing process that uses digital files to quickly jet binder into a bed of powder particles—metal, sand, or ceramic—to create a solid part one layer at a time. When printing metal, the final part must be sintered to fuse the particles together to form a solid.

ExOne has partnered with Ford to certify aluminum, which is the result of a new patent-pending binder jet 3D printing and sintering process. This achievement is further highlighted because it was done without too much liquid phase sintering to cause melting and deformation; this would first prohibit manufacturers from using many features of 3D printing, such as unique geometric shapes.

ExOne is a pioneer and global leader in adhesive jet 3D printing technology. Since 1995, we have been committed to providing powerful 3D printers to solve the most difficult problems and achieve innovations that change the world. Our 3D printing system can quickly transform powder materials (including metals, ceramics, composites, and sand) into precision parts, metal casting molds and cores, and innovative tooling solutions. Industrial customers use our technology to save time and money, reduce waste, increase their manufacturing flexibility, and provide designs and products that were once impossible. As home to the world's leading team of adhesive jetting experts, ExOne also provides professional 3D printing services, including on-demand production of mission-critical parts and engineering and design consulting. Learn more about ExOne at www.exone.com or @ExOneCo on Twitter. We invite you to join us in #MakeMetalGreen™.

Media: Sarah Webster 724.516.2336 sarah.webster@exone.com

Doug Braunsdorf 1.646.899.7687 doug.braunsdorf@bcw-global.com

ExOne partnered with Ford Motor Company to use 6061 aluminum for adhesive jet 3D printing in a new patent-pending process. ExOne now offers 23 materials.

Media: Sarah Webster 724.516.2336 sarah.webster@exone.com

Doug Braunsdorf 1.646.899.7687 doug.braunsdorf@bcw-global.com