XYZprinting Propels Industrial SLS 3D Printing with MfgPro236 xS and BASF Forward AM Partnership

In a significant stride towards solidifying its presence in advanced manufacturing, Asian 3D printer manufacturer XYZprinting made a decisive entry into industrial additive manufacturing in 2019. This strategic move was marked by the introduction of various professional technologies, notably including Selective Laser Sintering (SLS). Building on the extremely positive market reception of its initial SLS offerings, the company has now taken a further step, emphatically reaffirming its commitment to providing robust industrial technologies that ensure exceptional repeatability and compatibility with a broad spectrum of high-performance materials. To achieve this ambitious vision, XYZprinting unveiled its groundbreaking new MfgPro236 xS machine during Rapid TCT in Chicago in September and is currently launching it globally at Formnext. This launch is accompanied by a major announcement: a reinforced commitment to SLS technology, underscored by an expanded material portfolio made possible through a crucial agreement with the chemical giant, BASF. With this comprehensive new solution, XYZprinting aims to profoundly consolidate its leadership in the dynamic field of SLS 3D printing, extending its reach to a wider array of industrial users. These users, spanning sectors like aerospace, automotive, general manufacturing, and engineering, are consistently seeking advanced solutions to meet their highly demanding application requirements, where precision, durability, and cost-efficiency are paramount.

The cornerstone of XYZprinting’s enhanced industrial strategy is undoubtedly the close collaboration agreement forged with the Forward AM division of BASF, a world leader in chemical innovation. This powerful partnership has been instrumental in accelerating the achievement of key objectives, especially concerning the substantial expansion of available manufacturing materials. Commenting on this pivotal alliance, Fernando Hernandez, Managing Director EMEA at XYZprinting, highlighted the synergy: “Our collaboration with BASF Forward AM is the essential link that enables us to offer more diverse and impactful 3D printing solutions across a multitude of commercial applications. XYZprinting already boasts a wide array of advanced technologies, and now, thanks to BASF Forward AM’s unique and expansive range of advanced polymers, we are able to create significant value for our customers at a much more competitive cost. We are profoundly confident that the combination of our innovative 3D printers with these premium, high-performance materials is elevating this technology to an unprecedented level of excellence and accessibility for industrial users worldwide.” This statement underscores not only the technical benefits but also the economic advantages this partnership brings to the burgeoning additive manufacturing market.

Further elaborating on the profound impact of this reinforced partnership, François Minec, Managing Director at BASF 3D Printing Solutions, added, “The strengthened collaboration between XYZprinting and BASF Forward AM is a game-changer. It will empower industrial users across various Additive Manufacturing technologies, enabling them to fully leverage our cutting-edge, high-performance materials in perfect synergy with XYZprinting’s robust and innovative solutions. This combined offering is ideal for a broad spectrum of needs, ranging from rapid, iterative prototyping to the direct manufacturing of end-use parts, ensuring superior quality and performance at every stage.” This sentiment highlights the comprehensive nature of the partnership, addressing diverse industrial requirements. Among the advanced materials that were prominently showcased at the Chicago event, demonstrating the immediate benefits of this alliance, were Ultrasint® PA6 MF, Ultrasint® PA11 Black, Ultracur3D® RG, and Ultracur3D® ST. These materials represent a new frontier in performance, offering properties such as enhanced mechanical strength, improved temperature resistance, and superior surface finish, which are critical for demanding industrial applications. The availability of such a diverse material portfolio through an open platform significantly broadens the scope for innovation and application development for XYZprinting users.

Unveiling the MfgPro236 xS: A New Benchmark in Industrial SLS 3D Printing

What Makes the MfgPro236 xS Stand Out?

With the introduction of its latest laser sintering innovation, XYZprinting continues to reinforce its formidable portfolio of industrial-grade solutions. The new MfgPro236 xS 3D printer, aptly positioned as the powerful successor and elder sibling to the acclaimed MfgPro230 xS, represents XYZprinting’s most sophisticated, economically viable, and comprehensive multi-material SLS 3D printing solution developed to date. Its development and market positioning are significantly bolstered by the strategic partnership with BASF Forward AM, ensuring unparalleled material compatibility and performance. This state-of-the-art machine boasts an impressive maximum manufacturing volume of 230 x 230 x 250 mm (approximately 9 x 9 x 9.8 inches), providing ample space for a wide range of industrial parts. One of its most pivotal and outstanding features is its integration of an “open material” platform. This architectural choice grants XYZprinting a substantial competitive advantage in the industrial additive manufacturing landscape, as many existing industrial SLS solutions on the market are typically constrained to operating exclusively with proprietary materials within restrictive closed systems. The MfgPro236 xS’s high-temperature chamber is meticulously engineered to facilitate the processing of highly specific and technically advanced materials, including the entire spectrum of PA6 polymers. When combined with its robust support for the PA12, PA11, PA11-CF, PP (Polypropylene), and TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) families, this machine emerges as one of the most versatile SLS machines available in its category. This unparalleled versatility renders it an ideal choice not only for on-demand manufacturing services and innovative research institutions but also for third-party material suppliers seeking to integrate their specialized offerings into a dynamic and open ecosystem.

Delving into the more intricate technical aspects, the MfgPro236 xS is engineered for supreme performance and efficiency. It is equipped with a powerful 60W CO2 laser, a significant upgrade that is twice as potent as the lasers typically found in competitive desktop SLS machines. This enhanced laser power translates directly into superior sintering capabilities, allowing for incredibly fast manufacturing speeds and the precise processing of a wider array of materials, while simultaneously ensuring exceptionally high-quality finishes on printed parts. The machine offers impressive control over print resolution, supporting a layer thickness range of between 0.06 mm and 0.12 mm, which allows users to balance speed with fine detail as required by their specific applications. Complementing its robust hardware, the 3D printer comes with all the essential software pre-installed, including the intuitive Buildware and the advanced XYZware SLS slicer, streamlining the entire printing workflow from design to final product. It also boasts broad file format compatibility, supporting industry-standard .stl and .3mf formats, alongside XYZ-specific formats (.3ws / .3wn) for seamless integration into existing digital workflows. Weighing in at a substantial 360 kg (approximately 794.7 lbs), the MfgPro236 xS is built for industrial stability and precision. It also incorporates an internal gas control system to maintain an optimal inert atmosphere for consistent sintering results, and a sophisticated thermal field control system featuring 4 independent heaters. This advanced thermal management ensures uniform temperature distribution throughout the sintering chamber, which can reach an impressive 220°C (428°F), guaranteeing higher performance, material integrity, and repeatable part quality even with the most demanding engineering polymers.

Accelerating Industrial Additive Manufacturing Adoption

The dual initiatives of launching the advanced MfgPro236 xS 3D printer and establishing a robust collaboration with BASF Forward AM for the development of cutting-edge materials have collectively empowered XYZprinting to significantly strengthen its unwavering commitment to industrial 3D printing. With these innovative manufacturing solutions, the company is now exceptionally well-positioned to compete head-on with the most prominent names and established leaders in the additive manufacturing industry. XYZprinting’s new offerings demonstrate that they are uncompromising in terms of manufacturing quality, part performance, and overall system reliability. This strategic positioning underscores their dedication to providing accessible, high-performance industrial additive manufacturing capabilities to a global market. To vividly demonstrate these remarkable capabilities and introduce its latest industrial innovations, XYZprinting will be actively exhibiting at the prestigious Formnext 2021 international trade fair in Frankfurt. This event presents a prime opportunity for industry professionals, potential clients, and enthusiasts to experience the MfgPro236 xS firsthand. Therefore, we highly encourage you to visit their booth (Hall 12.1 – C51) to delve deeper into their new product lines, explore their comprehensive industrial solutions, and engage with their experts to understand how these advancements can revolutionize your manufacturing processes. Further detailed information about XYZprinting’s industrial solutions can also be found HERE.

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*Cover Photo Credits: XYZprinting