Rapidly-growing 3D printing market commercialization has already led to significant growth in particular verticals, such as metal and ceramics. Recent research suggests that ceramic 3D printing could be worth 384 million dollars by 2025. The metal market, which is considered one of the fastest growing in the AM sector, is expected to surpass $18B by 2032 for understandable reasons.
These materials enable 3D printing to create complex parts that have superior mechanical properties. NanoParticle Jetting™, the signature process of AM 3D printing leader XJet, is compatible with both ceramics and metals, offering an automated, safe, environmentally friendly path toward scale manufacturing of high-quality, geometrically complex parts. We spoke with the company’s CMO, Guy Zimmerman, to learn more about the technology, its benefits, and XJet’s unique approach.
3DN: Can you introduce yourself to Xjet and/or your company?
Guy Zimmerman is my name. As Xjet grows, I recently joined the team as CMO. Although I have a wide range of experience, my core expertise is global business. Xjet, a 3D printer company, is currently addressing the most difficult segment of additive manufacturing: metals and ceramics. High quality, ready to use metal and ceramic parts that go into manufacturing and not into prototyping: that is the ambition using our own patented NanoParticle Jetting™ (NPJ) technology.
Xjet is a 3D printing company that focuses on the hardest segment in additive manufacturing, ceramics and metals. High quality, ready to use metal and ceramic parts that goes into manufacturing and not into prototyping, that is the ambition using our own patented NanoParticle Jetting™(NPJ) technology.
Guy Zimmerman
3DN: How does NPJ function? How does it work?
NPJ delivers clean, automated manufacturing of high quality parts in metal and ceramics without involving powders, manual labor, or post processing . What enables this breakthrough is XJet’s unique additive manufacturing process based on nano-particles direct material jetting, which print high-resolution parts using the toughest materials in scale. This process uses both main and support materials, which is a new approach to AM.
Let’s dive a little deeper into the printing procedure. This is what we call Print-Wash–Sinter. This is the basic principle of procurable material made from nanoparticles. This allows us to print both the material as well as the support simultaneously. It is very difficult but easily soluble. The support can be washed in water after the construction is completed. This is the final step of sintering. It takes place in an industrial furnace but at a much lower temperature that powder-based options. This enables the highest complexity, accuracy and a level surface. This technology also eliminates design constraints. Technology and use of nanoparticle layers with soluble support allow for the creation complex geometries and internal components. It also opens up new possibilities for design that were previously considered unimaginable.
Xjet has a wide range of great solutions
This results in high-quality and precise parts right from the start. ThE printed parts are easy to assemble and require no additional processing. As with the XJet slogan: print, wash, and sinter.
Nanoparticles also have the advantage of being able to Print thin layers. The density level is significantly higher compared to other additive technologies, reaching highest levels of material purity, density and surface smoothness. This significantly improves the parts’ performance and reduces the sintering effect.
You may be familiar with the fact that sintering turns particles into actual materials, which can often lead to significant shrinkage. With XJet’s technology, the process is done at a temperature lower than 200C, which saves time, boosts density, and reduces isotropic and overall shrinkage. Shrinkage remains the same along the x, y and z axes, resulting in no distortions in the final part. This innovative and proprietary technology is used to pack the parts in high-throughput manufacturing systems. This digital process is safer than manual and polluting processes that result in poorer quality parts.
3DN: What are the applications for Xjet’s solutions?
We are collaborating with market leaders customers to target specific verticals in each of the three industrial domains, Industrial, Medical and Consumer.
Alumina, Zirconia and other ceramics offer excellent heat resistance, corrosion resistance, and electrical isolation. Our freedom to design opens up industrial opportunities (e.g. Semiconductor parts for manufacturing heat exchangers, electricity connectors, waveguard antennas, and electrical board pieces.
Formnext 2022 was attended by Xjet
We are expanding our presence in dental crowns and implants, which are one of today’s fastest growing markets. In consumer goods we focus on high value wearables like high-end earbuds (which is an intriguing application, as the printed parts are very small, nonconductive, and customized to offer top acoustic qualities), and luxury watches.
We can even produce ceramic parts using our Carmel1400 high-performance system. Metal, a new technology that has replaced traditional MIM (Metal Injection Molding), is now available for small runs and large parts such as surgical instruments and hydraulic system parts.
A variety of applications require high quantities, which can replace many traditional technologies. We are able to support them. It includes investment casting (a central technology that has small parts and struggles when part production is below 20,000), CNC (metal injection molding), and CNC. This makes our technology more economically viable.
3DN: What made Xjet launch a solution for metal?
We established ceramics technology among the market leaders and technical experts in ceramics. Then we developed the metal portion of our portfolio using two of the most popular stainless steels. Metal is an even larger market. Developing the metal solution was more challenging, but we’ve reached unprecedented performance levels, even better than ceramics. It was introduced on the market early in 2022 after undergoing extensive evaluation.
It is now available, and we showcased it at Formnext 2022 with testimonials from the technology’s leading beta users. This metal solution is a viable alternative to multiple powder-based technology solutions and offers clear benefits as an automated, clean process that can be used in many sectors.
Xjet’s metal solution
This technology has many benefits. We were able develop soluble supports materials that work well with metal. This is a major advantage for many customers. The part’s high quality surface is another benefit. It is easy to see right from the machine and does not require any further processing. This third benefit can produce highly complicated parts with precision, which is a tremendous advantage in many areas.
To illustrate, the entire wristband for a premium watch can be printed from stainless steel. It might need a little bit of polishing, but that’s it. The part can be printed so precisely that the wristband bearings are included in it. NJP gives you the capability to produce metal parts that can be printed with high precision and are ready to use thanks to its unique ability to jet rather than powder. The focus of our users is to make high-quality, precise parts that are suitable for various consumer markets.
3DN: The sustainability of your business is an additional aspect that you should be proud of. Is it really environmentally-friendly?
It is first and foremost safe. It is safe. The material comes in sealed containers and contains no free powder or toxic particles. It’s a safe process for those who operate it, which is not the case for many AM and traditional processes. You only use the material that is necessary to make the part. In a true additive manufacturing process, it doesn’t waste any material.
The support material can safely be drained as it is water-soluble. Some minerals are present, however it is considered safe enough for drinking. It almost eliminates the need for waste disposal, making it safer for people and the environment.
Our sintering process is more environmentally friendly than many others. This is the part that consumes the most energy, however, because it’s done at lower temperatures and for shorter periods of time, we can save a lot. This is why NJP is one of the best environmentally-friendly processes for metals and ceramics.
3DN: Last words to our readers
NPJ technology has three main advantages. NPJ technology has three main advantages. It is safer, more accurate and can achieve higher densities thanks to nanoparticles embedded in the ink. This second advantage is found in the printing process. You can print the thinnest layer to create unbeatable complexity and Design for Functionality. Third, the green element. All parts are washable in water and leave no residue.
Three steps are required to print, wash and sinter the material. Moving forward, we believe the technology will become a major part in the digital transformation of ceramic and metal, industrial, high-quality, complex parts manufacturing. Find out more information about XJet HERE, or watch the video below for a better understanding of how our technology works.
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*All Photo Credits: Xjet