3D Printers Archives - Page 2 of 47 - Perfect 3D Printing Filament

Arevo Announces New Aqua 2 Carbon Fiber 3D Printer, $25M in Series B Funding

Due to its stiffness, high strength-to-weight ratio, and the fact that it demonstrates anisotropic properties, carbon fiber has been used as a less expensive replacement material for metals such as titanium for decades, and has many applications in industrial sectors like aerospace and automotive. As you may know, Silicon Valley technology startup Arevo has long focused on continuous carbon fiber composites printing. Back in 2015, the company, which counts the CIA’s venture capital arm In-Q-Tel as an investor, developed a laser-based method for 3D printing carbon fiber with a multi-axis robotic arm. This technology, paired with quality design software, allows Arevo, and its customers, to automate the design and printing of large, complex, continuous CFRP composite parts.

“High speed automation removes human errors in traditional composites manufacturing,” the Arevo site states. “Our patented technology uses lasers to manufacture high quality composite parts at scale.”

Now, the California company is announcing its newest innovation: the Aqua 2 3D printing system. Arevo states in a press release that the new Aqua 2 is the first high-speed 3D printer in the world for large continuous carbon fiber composite structures. Additionally, it said that the Aqua 2 printer is of higher quality, can achieve rapid, on-demand fabrication of custom composite parts up to one cubic meter in size, and can also print four times faster than the 3D printer that came before it.

But its new Aqua 2 3D printer isn’t the only good news Arevo is sharing—the company also announced that it has closed its Series B financing round after raising an additional $25 million, bringing the total amount raised to $60 million.

Leaders of this round were GGV Capital and Defy Partners, and additional support came from Alabaster, previous investor Khosla Ventures, and more.

“We are excited to have Defy and GGVC on board to bring not only capital but a vast amount of strategic experience,” Arevo’s co-founder and chairman Hemant Bheda stated. “The strong interests in the company despite tough market conditions really reaffirm our vision.”

Aqua 2 Printer Head

Additionally, Defy has appointed serial entrepreneur and investor Brian Shin to join the board of directors at the startup, which also includes Bheda, Khosla’s Bruce Armstrong, and Arevo’s CEO Sonny Vu.

“Arevo is a compelling opportunity for us as it combines our three main investment foci: consumer internet, enterprise, and smart tech. We see fantastic potential in this market, and have backed Sonny before at Misfit,” said Hans Tung, a Managing Partner at GGVC. “Arevo is led by an experienced team with solid technological foundation and 3D printing manufacturing know-how at scale – to offer breakthrough products at competitive prices.”

Arevo has been historically well-funded over the years, and recently launched a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo to sell its first direct-to-consumer products: the Superstrata bicycle and e-bike. The startup has used its technology to create bicycle frames before, but claims that its Superstrata products will be the first real custom 3D printed unibody carbon fiber bikes. This campaign has been so popular that within three minutes of launching, the goal of $100,000 had already been reached, and now it’s close to raising $4 million.

“Arevo’s new platform enables fabrication of high strength, low weight carbon fiber parts, currently not possible with today’s standard techniques. We are thrilled to be working with the team to help scale up this incredibly impactful technology,” said Trae Vassallo, founding partner at Defy.

Carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastic bracket

(Source/Images: Arevo)

The post Arevo Announces New Aqua 2 Carbon Fiber 3D Printer, $25M in Series B Funding appeared first on 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing.

AREVO reveals high-speed Aqua 2 3D printer, announces $25m funding

Additive manufacturing composites company AREVO has announced the launch of its Aqua 2 3D printer and the conclusion of a $25 million funding round. AREVO has designed its Aqua 2 system to be a high-speed machine, with a focus on printing large-format continuous carbon fiber parts. The company unveiled its new printer after it closed […]

T3D Announces New LCD-Based High-Speed 3D Printing System

Taiwan 3D Tech, also known as T3D, is a startup spin-off from the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (NTUST). Headquartered in Taipei, the company was officially founded in 2017 by Jeng Ywan-Jeng, a Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Director of the High Speed 3D Printing Research Center at the university, as well as the Founder of the 3D Printing Association in Taiwan.

Jeng had been working on a 3D printing system since 2012, and finally showed off his smartphone-based 3D printer to the world at Inside 3D Printing Shanghai 2015, launching a Kickstarter campaign for the small SLA system two years later. He told 3DPrint.com at formnext 2017 that T3D’s unique printer, which he had once referred to as “a cyber physic system (CPS) machine,” can cure a 100 micron layer in 15 seconds.

“The idea is to use only a smartphone, no PC; we use this light for its energy to do something. We have already proved it can be done,” Jeng told us at the event in Frankfurt.

The 3D printer uses light from the smartphone to cure specialty resin from a vat sitting on top of the phone to the print bed above, a concept we’ve seen before in the OLO smartphone-powered 3D printer. Both 3D printing systems had successful Kickstarter campaigns, but the difference between the two is that while there has been no news on the OLO, now the ONO, for roughly two years, T3D is actively getting its product to customers, while also continuing to innovate.

“T3D is the first mobile 3D printer in Taiwan,” the company states. “No complicated operation and no restrictions. Just print your lifestyle. We are a team of hardware, software, and chemical engineers aiming to disrupt the traditional 3D printing industry.”

Recently, the T3D team announced its newest product, the T3D LCD High-Speed 3D Printer, which will officially be launched at the Taiwan Innotech Expo event in Taipei this September.

According to T3D, its new High-Speed 3D Printer is able to speed up the 3D printing process by achieving fast print speeds of 10 cm per hour. In addition, thanks to the startup’s multiple colors of visible light curing photosensitive resin and “special fep film,” as a press release states, the system can also print continuously.

Just like with the original T3D smartphone-powered system, the T3D High-Speed 3D Printer also comes with an app that appears to make the process quick and easy. Users can search the Cloud Gallery for a variety of public models, and with one click can select their desired print. The T3D app works with many kinds of mobile phones, so you shouldn’t need to worry about corrupting any files, and you can also select your print settings in the app as well.

T3D, which aims to make 3D printing easier for consumers, states that the High-Speed 3D printer features “high productivity and accuracy,” which is definitely in line with this mission. Other competitive advantages the new T3D High-Speed 3D Printer features include 47 um precision and advanced software to ensure an easier workflow.

(Images courtesy of T3D)

The post T3D Announces New LCD-Based High-Speed 3D Printing System appeared first on 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing.

3DEvaluate Launched to Digitize 3D Printing Buying and Vending Process

The development of digital platforms and online solutions, especially to replace or transform in-person, hands-on business interactions, has accelerated due to the impact of COVID-19. Major public events and international travel are cancelled or uncertain for an extended period, leaving buyers and vendors unable to physically meet, or to gain first-hand information about hardware or software solutions, parts, and materials to evaluate and select the best fit for their business needs. We have already seen how major events such as TCT and IMTS, have introduced digital platform initiatives and content, such as IMTS Spark or TCT Asia Expo Reach, to try fill the gap or re-imagine what is most essential and effective in industry trade-shows.

Last year in July, 3DPrint.com had interviewed Gil Lavi, CEO of Israel-based 3D Alliances and bellwether for the industry, where he had shared his focus on being there for customers “to assist them with choosing the best solutions for their portfolio” and of providing “end-to-end solutions from design to end-use parts”. His efforts in connecting dozens of leading 3D printing start-ups with 3D resellers (to grow revenues, deploy and expand through global channels, obtain funding or talent) is what resulted in the world’s largest network of 1500 3D Value-Added Resellers (VAR) in 73 countries. Now, in response to COVID-19 impacts, 3DAlliances has launched 3DEvaluate, a platform to help buyers find, evaluate and select industrial 3D printing solutions, and for corresponding vendors to find and evaluate mature, capable buyers. The platform also serves as a third-party to streamline and optimize the purchasing process for both, buyer and vendor.

On the buyer side, the user can compare and evaluate different vendors and technologies within specific categories (FDM, SLA, SLS, Metals), receive sample parts or benchmark their own parts, and on selecting a supplier, can connect directly with them to complete the purchasing process. On the vendor side, the platform provides lead generation and qualification support, helps vendors make more efficient use of their marketing budgets, and enables them to interact with informed buyers who are mature and have already completed a thorough evaluation process, saving time and duplication of effort.

Image courtesy of 3D Evaluate

3DEvaluate also helps with verification. The two-sided platform does not indiscriminately list all 3D printing manufacturers seeking to sell. OEM manufacturers and vendors are not added to the platform on request, but are screened against certain criteria and profiled by 3DEvaluate to ensure vendors are reliable and professional before being added to the platform.

FDM Sample Kit. Image courtesy of 3DEvaluate

The platform serves to fundamentally speed up and simplify the buyer’s evaluation process prior to selecting an AM system. With buyers and vendors unable to travel and interact face to face, such online, remote third-party solutions accelerate the digitization in the buyer’s evaluation and selection process, bringing much needed efficiency as well as new capabilities to both buyers and sellers of AM systems worldwide. In addition, the platform also provides current information and educational content around 3D printing technologies and applications. It is clear that introducing such a platform (although it currently lists only FDM category, with SLA, SLS, and metal soon to come) in this macroeconomic environment, accelerates much-needed digitization in key areas of buyer-vendor interaction such as objective information, sampling, benchmarking, evaluation, purchasing and more.

It will be interesting to see how quickly 3DEvaluate is able to expand its reach and grow the number and types of vendors available across the technology categories. What would also be interesting to see is how such digital platforms compare with other product or solution comparison platforms, or complement third-party decision-making software platforms such as CASTOR (also from Israel) which evaluates both, the technical and financial feasibility of complex or low-volume parts for 3D printing. Both platforms sit in a critical point in the 3D printing value chain – helping customers, regardless of physical location, to objectively and efficiently, understand, evaluate and select the most suitable 3D technologies or vendors, to meet their specific business needs.

The post 3DEvaluate Launched to Digitize 3D Printing Buying and Vending Process appeared first on 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing.

3D Printing News Briefs, July 25, 2020: MakerBot, ANSYS, Sintavia, Nexa3D & Henkel

We’re all business in today’s 3D Printing News Briefs! MakerBot has a new distribution partner, and ANSYS is launching a new product. Sintavia has acquired an additional Arcam 3D printer from GE Additive. Finally, Nexa3D and Henkel are introducing a new material for 3D printing medical and athletic devices.

MakerBot Welcomes New Distribution Partner

MakerBot announced that it has expanded its distributor network by entering into an agreement with the Distrinova division of the Unitum Group, which will distribute the MakerBot METHOD 3D print platform throughout Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. This partnership will increase the availability of the entire platform, which offers industrial capabilities and engineering-grade materials, to more customers in the Benelux region who need professional, powerful 3D printing solutions. The METHOD platform consists of the METHOD and METHOD X printers, various accessories like an experimental extruder, METHOD Carbon Fiber editions, and materials like Nylon Carbon Fiber, ABS, ASA, SR-30, and PC-ABS FR, and Distrinova’s network of channel partners will distribute all of them, in addition to MakerBot’s educational 3D printing solutions.

“We are very proud to introduce MakerBot and the METHOD technology into our product portfolio,” said Guy Van der Celen, CEO of Unitum Group BV. ” With the METHOD range we can provide our resellers network not only reliable, state-of-the-art 3D printers, but also the opportunity to offer their customers high value-added solutions for a broad range of new application areas. In addition, the introduction of MakerBot corresponds perfectly with Distrinovas’ strategy to develop strong partnerships with the leading innovative global manufacturers of 3D printers.”

ANSYS Event to Launch Discovery Product

Engineering simulation software company ANSYS released its Discovery Live tool for real-time 3D simulation back in 2017, and will soon be introducing a brand new ANSYS Discovery product, kicking things off with a virtual launch event on July 29th. The company states that the product can help companies improve their product design processes, increase ROI, and provide answers to important design questions earlier, without having to wait for the results of a simulation.

“This reimagining of the Discovery line of products aims to maximize ease of use, speed and accuracy across thermal, structural, fluids and multiphysics simulation all from within a single consistent user interface (UI),” Justin Hendrickson, Senior Director, Design Product Management, wrote in a blog post about the new ANSYS Discovery.

“Traditionally, simulation has been used during later stages of design when making corrections can be costly and time consuming. However, with the new Ansys Discovery, every engineer will be able to leverage simulation early during concept evaluation as well as during design refinement and optimization. This means that they will be able to optimize products and workflows faster and on a tighter budget.”

The launch event will feature a keynote address from Mark Hindsbo, Vice President and General Manager, Design Business Unit, a product demonstration by Hendrickson, two customer success stories, and several interactive breakout sessions, including one focusing on thermal simulation and another exploring the tool’s generative design capabilities. You can register for the event here.

Sintavia Acquires Second Arcam Q20+ 3D Printer

Tier One metal additive manufacturer Sintavia announced that it has acquired a second Arcam Q20+ 3D metal printer from GE Additive, bringing its total number of electron beam printing systems to three and its overall number of industrial metal 3D printers to nineteen. This additional Arcam Q20+ will be installed next month in Sintavia’s Hollywood, Florida production facility, where the other Q20+ is located with an Arcam A2X, a Concept Laser M2, three SLM 280 systems, a Trumpf TruPrint 3000, and nine EOS 3D printers – six M400s and five M290s.

“Over the past several years, we have worked to qualify the Q20+ for aerospace manufacturing and now have several aerostructure product lines that depend on this technology. Electron beam printing is an excellent option for complex titanium aerospace components, and this business line will continue to grow for us. Even in a difficult overall manufacturing environment, the demand we have seen for EB-built components is very encouraging,” stated Sintavia CEO Brian R. Neff.

Nexa3D and Henkel Commercializing New Material Together

Nasal swabs

Together, SLA production 3D printer manufacturer Nexa3D and functional additive materials supplier Henkel are commercializing the polypropylene-like xMED412, a durable, high-impact material that can be used to print biocompatible medical and wearable devices. Henkel is the one manufacturing the medical-grade material, which is based on its own Loctite MED412 and was designed to offer high functionality and consistent part performance—perfect for printing products like athletic and diving mouth gear, respirators, orthotic guides and braces, and personalized audio projects. The lightweight yet sturdy xMED412 material, which can withstand vibration, moisture, and impact, has been tested by Henkel Adhesive Technologies on the NXE400 3D printer, and is now also cleared to print nasal swabs.

“We are thrilled to bring this product to market in collaboration with Nexa3D. We developed and tested with Nexa3D’s NXE400 3D printer a multitude of approved workflows designed to unleash the full potential of xMED412’s outstanding physical properties and biocompatibility,” said Ken Kisner, Henkel’s Head of Innovation for 3D printing. “Nexa3D and Henkel have provided a digital manufacturing solution for a growing number of medical devices, athletic wearables and personalized audio products. Especially with regard to the current Covid-19 pandemic, we are pleased that nasopharyngeal swabs manufactured with xMED412 on the NXE400, in accordance with our published procedures, have already been cleared through clinical trials and are in compliance with ISO 10993 testing and FDA Class I Exempt classification.”

The post 3D Printing News Briefs, July 25, 2020: MakerBot, ANSYS, Sintavia, Nexa3D & Henkel appeared first on 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing.

E3D launches subtractive toolhead for desktop hybrid manufacturing

Leading hotend manufacturer E3D has launched a new subtractive toolhead for use with its Motion System and ToolChanger – the ASMBL tool. The ToolChanger has been available for a year now, and allows users to automatically change toolheads mid-print. With it, the production of multi-material, multi-resolution parts is completely automated. Printheads and extruders are swapped […]

Sharebot Releases Improved SnowWhite2, Low-Cost SLS 3D Printer

In 2014, Italian 3D printer manufacturer Sharebot introduced its low-cost selective laser sintering (SLS) system, SnowWhite, at the TCT Show, two years prior to its market release. The company has since branched out in its 3D printer offerings, but is still improving its SLS system, releasing the SnowWhite2, an improved update to the original SnowWhite with some new features.

“SnowWhite was created to bring the advantages of sintering to small and medium-sized companies and laboratories, all in an economic, simple and effective way without sacrificing the professional quality of the result,” Sharebot states on its website. “The user can really “print in one click” because, once the profile of the material has been defined, the printing process is completely autonomous, requires no external intervention and the results are perfectly repeatable.”

The Sharebot SnowWhite2 features what Sharebot refers to as direct laser sintering (DLS) technology, infusing prints with thermal and mechanical resistance. Because of its CO₂ laser, multiple thermoplastic powders should work with this system, such as PA12 and TPU. It’s also possible to use special powders loaded with other material particles, like aluminum, carbon, or glass, to give prints a variety of mechanical, visual, and physical properties.

Textile sample 3D printed on SnowWhite2

One improvement that the SnowWhite2 features is an upgraded software interface, which includes custom print profiles and open parameters. The printer uses the Simplify3D slicer, and has Ethernet connectivity, which partners well with the Sharebox3D print notification system.

Another one of the major changes is improved temperature management of the print chamber. The SnowWhite2 printer can be integrated with a separate module, the SnowWhite2 Nitro, that uses oxygen presence sensors to regulate the flow of whichever inert gas is used, nitrogen or argon. This makes it possible to control the atmosphere inside the chamber, which Sharebot says means no more yellowing prints.

The company says that the Nitro module can be easily added for a modified print atmosphere at any time, and that it’s easy to set the 120 kg printer up. According to Sharebot, it takes less than ten minutes to start up the SnowWhite2, about the same amount of time to move from loading your material to printing out the first few layers.

The company states that the printer’s other features include ease of use, minimal maintenance and fast cleanup, durable prints with highly detailed surfaces, a heated build chamber, and a 50 micron Z-axis resolution. Sharebot also notes that, on average, the new SnowWhite2 consumes less than 1.5 kilowatts of electrical per hour, includes an advanced laser control system with emissivity settings, and that all the unused powder is recycled and “can be directly reused in subsequent processing.”

Assembly sample 3D printed on SnowWhite2

Additional SnowWhite2 3D printer specs are:

100 x 100 x 100 mm print volume
100 micron XY resolution
0.2 mm spot dimension
35 mm/h Z-axis speed
scan speed up to 3500 mm/s

With the SnowWhite 2, we are now seeing the second generation in low-cost SLS machines, as Sinterit has already released the Lisa 2 and Sintratec the S2. The goal with these systems is to bring sophisticated SLS technology down to a price point that smaller businesses and labs can afford. However, as these machines advance, one has to wonder how their costs will increase. Just as Sharebot has created its Nitro module for improved prints, Sinterit has launched a series of accessories that will likely bring up the total overall cost of operation. They may still be able to keep prices below high-end production systems, as Sinterit has demonstrated that it is still focused on reducing costs as much as possible with its accessories.

Sharebot is now taking pre-orders for the new SnowWhite2 3D printer, with delivery beginning October 1st, 2020. Also, there is currently a special discount for pre-orders of the printer until September 30; contact the company’s marketing department for more information.

(Images courtesy of Sharebot)

The post Sharebot Releases Improved SnowWhite2, Low-Cost SLS 3D Printer appeared first on 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing.

Sharebot launches the SnowWhite 2 3D printer – technical specifications and pricing

Sharebot has debuted its new SnowWhite 2 3D printer. The professional SLS system is the next iteration to the previously released SnowWhite, with improvements in temperature control and a new software engine. Being aimed primarily at SMEs and research institutions, the machine claims to provide an economical method of professional-grade polymer part production. Covering all […]

Modix Releases Three New XL 3D Printers

As a leader in the large-format 3D printing market, Modix is consistently keeping current with the release of new printers that are bigger and better than ever. The Israeli company is doubling its product portfolio by debuting three new printers: BIG-Meter (1000 x 1000 x 1000 mm), BIG-180X (1800 x 600 x 600 mm), and […]

Dyze Design Releases Typhoon™ Fast Print Large-Scale 3D Printer Extruder

Canada-based OEM Dyze Design is officially releasing its new print head, Typhoon™. Designed for large-scale 3d printers, the Typhoon extruder can output 0.9 kg of material per hour, 10 times the speed of a standard extruder such as DyzEnd/DyzeXtruder. Simply put, a generic 16 hours print would only take from 1 to 3 hours with the Typhoon™ […]