ExOne and RP+M Collaborate on 3-D Printing Project for Medical Imaging

The ExOne Company, a provider of three-dimensional printing machines and printed products to industrial customers, is collaborating with Rapid Prototype + Manufacturing (RP+M), to add bonded tungsten to ExOne’s portfolio of 3-D printing material.    

ExOne and RP+M developed the application of bonded tungsten in the design of RP+M’s products to be used in protecting people from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation. The 3-D printed products provide solutions that reduce development time and costs traditionally associated with fabrication and tooling, as well as improvement of production times, according to a release issued by the companies. RP+M and its partner, Radiation Protection Technologies, target bundled solutions for replacement of the lead (which traditionally has been used for radiation shielding) for the medical imaging and aerospace markets. RP+M has ordered an M-Flex machine from ExOne to develop solutions in bonded tungsten, which replaces lead, with a solution that is compliant with Restriction of Use of Hazardous Substances regulations.

“3-D printed bonded tungsten is a great solution for radiation shielding because the M-Flex can create complex shapes for these applications that would be difficult to create with conventional methods of manufacturing,” said Rick Lucas, ExOne’s chief technology officer. “Our collaboration with RP+M demonstrates the power of ExOne’s strategy in engaging customers in the early stages of the materials development process, yielding direct applications in new markets.”

Matt Hlavin, CEO of RP+M noted: “We believe ExOne’s M-Flex machine is unique because of its ability to use multiple types of material and the machine’s fast print speeds. The ExOne team is clearly committed to forming strategic relationships with innovators … to drive their 3-D technology to new frontiers. We will continue to work with ExOne to develop other materials and applications for the M-Flex machine.”

According to ExOne, its Material Applications Laboratory has other materials under various stages of development. The firm has been focused on 3-D printing for industrial customers since 2005.

North Huntingdon, Pa.-based ExOne provides pre‐production collaboration and prints products through production service centers that are located in the United States, Germany and Japan. The company builds 3-D printing machines at its facilities in the United States and Germany.

RP+M, based in Avon Lake, Ohio, provides rapid prototyping, additive manufacturing, rapid manufacturing and 3-D printing and scanning in-house.