The ExOne Company has launched a new online estimating tool for companies considering moving production of metal parts to high-speed binder jet 3D printing. The ExOne Production Metal Cost Calculator is designed to provide manufacturers with a per-part estimate for binder jet 3D printing a precision metal part so they can quickly compare the technology to other forms of traditional and additive manufacturing. The new tool requires just a few easy inputs – material, machine, part dimensions and volume – and is based on the purchase of any one of ExOne’s four Pro series printers, a lineup that competes with existing systems from Digital Metal and new binder jet systems from Desktop Metal, GE and HP. ExOne’s production-ready lineup includes the: X1 25Pro® large metal 3D printer, which launched in 2019 and is being successfully used by many manufacturers worldwide today. It offers a maximum build rate of 3,600 cc/hr, which makes it faster and more affordable to operate than comparably sized systems in the market today. X1 160Pro™ extra-large metal 3D printer, which is in production at ExOne’s German facility and shipping to customers soon. With a maximum print speed of 10,000 cc/hr, the 160Pro is ExOne’s 10th and most anticipated metal printer ever – offering the best value when considering size, speed, and material flexibility. Market demand for the 160Pro has been stronger than expected. InnoventPro™, which comes to market in late 2021 with a 3-liter or 5-liter build volume and is a faster version of the Innovent+® – the world’s most popular metal binder jetting system since 2016. Final specifications for the InnoventPro will be released closer to production in late 2021. ExOne Delivers Unparalleled Material Flexibility: ExOne’s complete family of Pro series printers is qualified to 3D print more than 20 materials, including 11 single-alloy metals, five composite metals and four ceramics. Printable metals include 17-4PH, 316L, 304L, Cobalt Chrome, Copper, H13 Tool Steel, Inconel 718, Inconel 625, M2 Tool Steel, Titanium, and Tungsten Heavy Alloy. Aluminum, which is already qualified for R&D use on ExOne systems, has been fast-tracked for ExOne’s highest third-party qualification status, which indicates general market readiness. ExOne’s first aluminum alloys are expected to receive this status upgrade during 2021. What is Binder Jet 3D Printing? Binder jetting is a groundbreaking 3D printing process that uses a digital file to quickly inkjet a binder into a bed of powder particles — metal, sand or ceramic — creating a solid part one layer at a time. When printing metals, the final part must be sintered in order to fuse the particles together into a solid object. Binder jetting is a sustainable method of manufacturing that reduces material waste to less than 5%, saves energy by consolidating many assembled parts and processes into one, and can deliver end-use products that are 30-40% lighter — for more efficient cars, planes and military equipment.