EOS P3 Next SLS 3D Printer Offers Optimized Workflow for Medical Applications

The EOS P3 Next industrial polymer 3D printer is designed to achieve new levels of productivity and efficiencies for selective laser sintering (SLS) in additive manufacturing (AM).

“We listened to our customers and the market, and delivered what we believe sets the new benchmark for midframe serial polymer SLS production,” says Virginia Palacios, chief business officer – Polymer, EOS. “The EOS P3 Next is an exceptionally productive machine, and when combined with remarkable new materials — such as EOS PA 2220 HighReuse and ALM PA 950 HD, which require minimal refresh — the EOS P3 Next makes the strongest case yet for SLS for in-mouth devices, eyewear, surgical guides, structural components. Our polymer solutions have a strong medical legacy, having been successfully deployed by numerous customers for more than two decades.”

With its integrated monitor, the EOS P3 Next casts a slightly smaller overall footprint than the prior EOS P 396, requiring less floor space yet maintaining the same build volume (340 × 340 × 600mm). According to the company, the biggest changes lie under the hood, including advanced software updates and scanning algorithms, improved recoater speed, optimized heating and new peripheral equipment.

The updates are designed to provide:

• Increased productivity: An optimized process sequence with accelerated prescanning, recoating and cool down can result in up to a 50% increase in productivity
• Higher Machine Utilization: Up to 90% machine availability ensures that machine, labor and floor space are used efficiently while driving operational excellence.
• Improved Material Efficiency: An 80% material reusability with ALM PA 950 HD nylon 12 material; 70% material reusability with EOS PA 2220 results in high reuse.
• Lowered total cost of ownership (TCO): Up to 30% reduced TCO
• Enhanced Part Quality: Increased dimensional accuracy, surface finish and mechanical part properties with flexible parameter adjustment capabilities and material variety
• User-friendly print-to-part workflow: Streamlined production processes that include unpacking and finishing of parts as well as sieving and mixing of materials, ensuring safe and efficient operations
• Regulated Markets Readiness: Biocompatible material, field-proven technology, EOS qualification services and quality assurance procedures

“Faster, more efficient and enabled by new materials, the EOS P3 Next opens up new possibilities for tool-free manufacturing,” says Alexander Prillwitz, product manager, EOS P3 Next. “This system provides an end-to-end manufacturing solution for users, streamlining the production process and creating a more user-friendly interface for operators. Regardless of AM experience, this system makes it easy to be successful with industrial polymer 3D printing.”

Material availability includes the EOS materials PA 2200, PA 2220 HighReuse, PA 2201, PA 1101, PA 3200 GF, PA 2241 FR and ALM PA 950 HD. Additional materials will be qualified per customer request.

One EOS customer exploring the EOS P3 Next’s potential is AddMan Group. “Seeing the EOS P3 Next in action really solidified it for me — this is exactly the technology we need to meet the high standards of our medical manufacturing customers,” said Jay Dinsmore, executive vice president, AddMan. “The EOS P3 Next allows us to produce applications for the regulated medical market within a fully certified production environment, ensuring we meet both quality and compliance benchmarks.

“AddMan and EOS have a well-established partnership in metal 3D printing, and we are excited to expand this collaboration into the realm of SLS polymer. As the workhouse technology for our new Health Excellence Additive Lab (HEAL) Center launching in Florida in January 2025, the EOS P3 Next will empower us to deliver unmatched quality and cost-effectiveness for our medical manufacturing partners, reinforcing our commitment to excellence in this critical industry.”