Nexa3D introduces QLS 260 Laser Sintering System

3D printer manufacturer Nexa3D announced at Formnext the immediate availability of its QLS 260 industrial laser sintering system and the availability of INFINAM TPC 8008 P thermoplastic copolyester powder, recently released by Evonik, for use with the QLS series powder bed fusion printers.

The QLS 260 system builds on Nexa3D’s fast-cycle sintering technology and features a new integrated nitrogen generator that simplifies operation and store floor requirements. With the ability to complete a full production cycle in just 22 hours, the QLS 260 enables daily output, making it suitable for a wide range of polymer and metal production, including the processing of Evonik’s INFINAM TPC 8008 P.

Thermoplastic copolyesters (TPC) are a type of polymer material that belongs to the category of thermoplastic elastomers. The material is known for its combination of properties of polyester and polyether segments in its molecular structure. INFINAM TPC 8008 P offers a balance of mechanical, thermal and chemical properties, making it suitable for a wide range of applications.

“Evonik’s INFINAM TPC is a game-changing elastomeric material for Nexa3D’s QLS printers, with a significant mechanical advantage over TPU in durability, ductility, surface finish, and chemical resistance,” said Nexa3D Director of QLS Business Development John Calhoun. “With its premium performance characteristics, coupled with best-in-class throughput of the QLS series printers, it is the perfect solution for scaled production of elastomeric components.”

Nexa3D’s commitment to sustainable and scalable manufacturing solutions is reflected in its continuous efforts to validate novel production-ready polymers such as INFINAM® TPC for its fast-cycle sintering systems. This addresses the industry’s need for high-performance polymers for new and improved applications.

“Elastomer-based 3D printing applications play a crucial role in the additive manufacturing value proposition,” says Arnim Kraatz, Director of Powder Bed Fusion at Evonik. “By offering new optimized 3D printing materials like INFINAM TPC, we enable our customers to take advantage of a unique combination of material properties supporting exploration and scaling up of their new applications.”

In addition to working with Evonik and AMT, Nexa3D has installed TPC on multiple QLS platforms at JawsTec, a leading provider of additive manufacturing services, to provide access to TPC parts across the US.

JawsTec CEO Oscar Klassen said, “We are excited to provide TPC parts to our customers as a significant step forward in sintered elastomers for serial production of high rebound, high durability soft-touch parts that outperform TPU.”