Desktop metal has announced the launch of the ETEC Pro XL, a premium digital light processing (DLP) 3D printer that the company says launches at less than half the price of its predecessor. The ETEC Pro XL has a build area of 249.1 x 140.1 x 165.1 mm.
The system also features a 4K ultra-high definition projector, which the company says delivers optimal build size and pixel resolution, and a premium 385nm wavelength light engine delivers a power density of 5mW/cm^2, which translates into faster layer exposure times.
Desktop Metal says HyperPrint technology accelerates already fast DLP times with a resin heater and closed sensor system for continuous isotropic printing with low pull forces. The company says the printer also has a native XY resolution of 65 µm and a dynamic voxel resolution in Z of 25, 50 or 100 µm, depending on the material.
“Our ETEC polymer brand has been a leader in high-quality DLP printing for over 20 years, and the ETEC Pro XL continues that legacy at an affordable new price while offering important user upgrades,” said Ric Fulop. “DLP remains a superior polymer 3D printing technology in terms of speed, surface finish and accuracy, which is why we have more than 300 Super Fleet customers around the world, with more than three systems producing 24/7 using our machines.”
“These include manufacturers of industrial goods, toys, jewelry, medical devices and consumer electronics. The average size of our customer fleet 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 Perfactory and more recently known as P4K, has been a key driver of these super fleets.”
The ETEC Pro XL is currently qualified for use with E-Rigid Form Charcoal, a polyurethane-like resin with high strength and rigidity; HTM 140, a high-temperature molding material; and Easy Cast 2.0, a jewelry casting material with a high wax content. According to the company, ETEC Pro XL is also backwards compatible upon request with materials previously approved for previous P4K and Perfactory models.
DLP was launched by EnvisionTEC, with Desktop Metal acquiring the company and its DLP technology in a $300 million deal in January 2021.
The ETEC Pro XL 4K UHD projector is powered by an industrial DLP chip underneath the pressure tank. Dual linear carriages for the moving build plate ensure high-precision printing across the entire print bed by maintaining a parallel build environment. Desktop Metal states that, depending on the material being processed, layer thicknesses of up to 25 micrometers can be achieved.
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