rp+m and its partner, Radiation Protection Technologies, produce solutions for lead replacement for the medical imaging and aerospace markets. ExOne and rp+m developed the use of tungsten in the design of rp+m's products to make them suitable for protecting people and their environments from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation. rp+m has ordered an M-Flex machine to develop solutions in bonded tungsten, which replaces lead, with a Restriction of Use of Hazardous Substances-compliant solution, or "RoHS."
"3D-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 CTO. “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, added: "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, such as rp+m, to drive their 3D technology to new frontiers. rp+m will continue to work with ExOne to develop other materials and applications for the M-Flex™ machine."
