EOS 3D Printer Review

EOS 3D printers are high-tech laser-sintering machines from a German company of the same name. These printers, of course, are big, bulky things, not suited for hobbyists or smaller offices; but as far as serious 3D printers go, EOS machines are fairly user-friendly and easy to use. EOS offers several lines of 3D printers which differ by the raw materials used for printing, and by options and quality: there are metal laser-sintering systems, plastic laser-sintering systems, and the somewhat rare sand laser-sintering machines. In fact, EOS offers the only 3D printer able to work with Croning moulding material – allowing for creation of moulds and cores for sand casting.

How do EOS 3D Printers Work?

The EOSINT M 280

All EOS machines use the process known as Selective Laser Sintering, or SLS (this video explains the process in-depth). It’s an advanced process which involves sintering the raw material, usually in powder form, via a laser beam. EOS 3D printers, however, differ from other SLS machines in that they’re highly automated and are designed for optimal utilization of machine capacity, as well as user-friendliness.

EOS metal laser-sintering 3D printers – specifically, the improved EOSINT M 280 model – come equipped with a 200 or 400 watt solid-state laser, which can boast a very stable performance and the Laser Power Monitoring system provides the user with control over the sintering process. The sintering process itself takes place in a sealed chamber and can operate in both nitrogen and argon atmospheres – expanding the range of materials and increasing the quality of parts produced. The choice of materials is wide and ranges from light metals to tooling-quality steel and superalloys. A variety of additional equipment options are available, ensuring great flexibility.

EOS plastic laser-sintering 3D printers are available in two lines of machines: FORMIGA and EOSINT P.

FORMIGA printers work with polyamide or polystyrene and boast high levels of surface quality, automation and user-friendliness, while at the same time requiring a minimum of accessories and having relatively low energy consumption levels. FORMIGA printers are optimized for production of small series or individualized products with complex structures – for instance, medical and consumer products.

The latest representative of EOSINT P printers – the EOSINT P 800 – is different from other plastic laser sintering machines in that it is able to print with high-performance polymers. Improving on the already good design of the EOSINT P 730, the new machine is able to process temperatures up to 385°C. This means that it gives you the ability to print plastic parts with very good material properties while being a great 3D printer all by itself.

The EOS sand laser-sintering 3D printer line is represented by the EOSINT S 750. This great device has a range of great capabilities – it’s fast, it boasts a large build volume, but its main feature is the choice of material – it allows for printing of Croning moulding materials. The EOSINT S 750 allows you to produce very high-quality castings while removing batch size limitations.