Exentis acquires medical customer for its ceramic Additive Manufacturing technology
Exentis Group AG, located in Stetten, Switzerland, has announced a new customer for its ceramic Additive Manufacturing technology. Components for active implants are reported to be one of the main products of the unnamed customer, who was attracted by the speed and cost savings made possible through the large-scale Additive Manufacturing process.
As in many other medical devices, connecting parts such as feedthroughs must be made of high-quality ceramics. At the beginning of 2022, a feasibility study was therefore completed to determine the geometry with which the parts were to be produced by Additive Manufacturing. It was confirmed that Exentis’ AM process has the potential to map the technical specifications and meet the economic requirements of the customer.
The company’s Additive Manufacturing technology is based on 3D screen printing. After the design of the desired parts has been defined, it is transferred to a screen. The parts are then built-up layer by layer on carriers using paste (made of a predefined material, e.g. stainless steel or aluminium oxide). Depending on the geometric complexity of the parts to be produced, a different number of screens are required.
The company’s technology can be used to Additively Manufacture components for a wide range of applications and industrial sectors. The eco-friendly cold-printing process is said to generate ultra-fine structures without rework, with wall thicknesses and cavities down to 70 µm being possible. The process allows for complex designs with undercuts and closed cavities, without any supporting structures. Porosity can be adjusted to between 0 and 40% and surface roughnesses of Ra≤2µm can be achieved.
