Xact Metal announced not one, but two new metal 3D printers.
The company specializes in providing LBPF equipment for producing smaller metal parts. The concept is to reduce the cost of the system to enable a different class of users than would be the typical customers for the larger LPBF providers.
They’ve had great success with their popular XM200G system, but now they have announced two additional systems, the XM200G µHD and the MX300G.
The XM200G µHD is a bit different from their prior equipment in that it is able to handle much smaller particle sizes in the metal powder.
Xact Metal CEO Juan Mario Gomez explained the logic of this new machine:
“Many customers require better printing performance to achieve micro sizes and smoother surfaces that have generally not been suitable for use in metal laser powder-bed fusion (LPBF) printers. Through the last year we have developed the capability to print 5-15 µm size powder, which traditionally has been used in the metal injection molding (MIM) industry and in binder metal printers. Based on the XM200G family of printers, the XM200G µHD LPBF printer will be able to print 5-15 µm size powder, have a laser spot size of 25 µm, a print bed of 140x140x150 mm build area (with an option of 290 mm in the Z-direction), and 100, 200 or 400W of laser power.“
So it is not a bigger machine, but one that can print with finer details. This opens up even more possible applications for the system, including antennas and waveguides, areas of significant growth recently.
Xact Metal said that this machine would be available some time in 2026.
The other new machine, the XM300G, is also slated for a late 2026 release. This machine doesn’t have the resolution of the XM200G µHD, but has a much larger build volume (300 x 300 x 400 mm) and up to four lasers.
Multiple lasers has typically been a feature available only on much larger and more expensive systems. Here we have a small system that operates as many as four lasers, up to 1000W each. This should speed up print jobs, as the target areas for the lasers fully overlap — they can work in parallel during a print job and dramatically speed up print times.
In addition, the company also announced two new powder providers. Sandvik will provide their Osprey MAR 55 tool and high speed steel powder, and Equisphers will provide their NExP-1 non-reactive aluminum powder. This adds to their announcement last year of a similar partnership with Uddehome for their Corrax steel, which is ideal for molding corrosive plastics.
You can see how Xact Metal is moving strategically here: each step they are taking unlocks a new set of applications, be it from their new hardware or from their new materials. This addresses the main customer concern: can I make my thing with your product.
In the case of Xact Metal, the answer is increasingly “yes”.
Via Xact Metal
