Nano Dimension launches Exa 250vx micro DLP 3D printer
Those who have stopped by Nano Dimension’s booth this week at Formnext 2024 will have been among the first to see the company’s latest release, the Exa 250vx DLP platform for micro printing. The new 3D printer, which is now available for pre-order and is expected to ship in mid 2025, is built for high precision and high productivity.
The Exa 250vx micro 3D printer was developed with insights shared from Nano Dimension’s Fabrica Tera and Fabrica Giga platforms, DLP-based systems capable of printing layers as fine as 1-5 microns. (Nano Dimension, which is in the process of acquiring Markforged and has been seeking other large scale acquisitions, acquired NanoFabrica back in 2022.)
The new Exa DLP machine, which has a build volume of 100 x 100 x 70 mm, addresses a gap identified by Nano Dimension customers for a need for micro-level detail on parts larger than the Fabrica Tera can handle (it’s max volume is 50 mm). In terms of precision and detail, the Exa 250vx has a 7.6 µm XY resolution and can print layers as fine as 10 µm. This larger build size also enables end users to achieve greater productivity.
As Nir Sade, Senior Vice President of Additive Manufacturing at Nano Dimension, explains: “Manufacturers producing micro parts are facing a trade-off between precision and productivity. As part of Exa’s development, we worked closely with customers to address a host of needs such as high-volume parts production with micro level detail for parts larger than the 50mm build limit we currently have on the Tera. The result is a system that provides the perfect balance of quality, productivity and cost, making it a game changer for the industry.”
The micro DLP platform is compatible with Nano Dimension’s range of high-resolution micro resins, including the D-810, an ABS-like material notable for its durability and structural integrity. The Exa printer is also an open platform, meaning users can also use third party resins. In terms of use cases, Nano Dimension positions its new micro DLP solution as a suitable production platform for applications like miniaturized components and connectors for electronic devices; micro needles and parts for minimally invasive surgeries in the medical sector; micro filters; optical housing components; and luxury products like jewelry with micro-scale detail.
Nano Dimension has not yet disclosed the price of the new Exa 3D printing platform, however it states that the printer is a cost-effective alternative to conventional micro-production techniques, like micro injection molding and micro CNC machining.
