The RMP1 will be almost identical to the final production line machines, apart from improvements and changes that are made as a result of customer feedback, the company said in a statement.

The final rapid manufacturing technology printer will be available for sale this year.

The company said the RMP1 was much more sophisticated than any previous machine it had built. The print bed was 450 mm x 400 mm and it could can print parts 10 times the volume of the previous test machine, the Alpha2 printer. In addition, the machine has thrice the processing capacity of the Alpha2.

The RMP1 was now functional with all primary sub-systems operating and the next step is for Aurora to commission and test the printer. This process will encompass machine calibration, printing test and production of sample parts.

Once the machine was calibrated and its parameters tested, Aurora had options as to what it would do, including the sale of the printer to an industry printer.

"At this stage Aurora’s preferred approach is for a sale that locks the user into purchasing Aurora powders for the life of the machine. Use of Aurora’s powders is an integral part of the company’s printing ecosystem ensuring production of quality parts," it said.

Aurora managing director David Budge said: “We have placed great emphasis on optimising speed increase and print quality which are key pillars of the Aurora strategy, and the team has made substantial progress achieving speed increases throughout the last few months, resulting in the print of series of 10mm high, titanium hexagon parts in a timeframe of only 20 minutes.

"This was particularly notable as numerous industry parties commented on the speed of the machine and the fact that machines they are currently using would take two to three days to achieve a similar result.

“We are also encouraged by the expressions of interest received from multiple parties for the RMP1 Beta machine and look forward to updating the market with Aurora’s developments ahead.”