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3D Printing News Briefs: October 14, 2019

In today’s 3D Printing News Briefs, everything is new, new, new! Carbon is announcing a new RPU 130 material, and STERNE Elastomere introduces its antimicrobial silicone 3D printing. Protolabs launches a new polypropylene 3D printing service in Europe, and Hydra Research has officially released its flagship Nautilus 3D printer.

Carbon Introduces RPU 130 Material

At this week’s International K Trade Fair in Dusseldorf, Carbon will debut its new RPU 130 resin, a rigid polyurethane that’s rigid, tough, impact resistant, and stands up under high temperatures, making it a perfect choice for the automotive industry in applications such as brake caliper covers. Made exclusively for Carbon’s Digital Light Synthesis, the dual-cure engineering resin is comparable to unfilled thermoplastics, and Carbon also partnered with DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products to make RPU 130 out of sustainable Susterra propanediol, a 100% bio-based material that uses 46% less nonrenewable energy from cradle-to-gate and produces 48% less greenhouse gas emissions as well.

“We are focused on ways to incorporate more sustainable approaches to developing materials, and our partnership with DuPont Tate & Lyle emphasizes that commitment,” stated Jason Rolland, SVP of Materials at Carbon. “We believe that sustainability can go hand-in-hand with improved performance. In the case of RPU 130, we believe it will make the material even more appealing for our customers, as it makes it possible to create better quality products that are also ultimately better for the environment.”

You can learn more about Carbon’s new RPU 130 at its K-Show booth, H7.2, F12 from October 16-23.

Antimicrobial Silicone 3D Printing by STERNE

French silicone 3D printing specialist STERNE will also be attending K 2019 this month. Three years ago, the company unveiled its silicone 3D printer at K 2016, and its SiO-shaping 3D silicone printing technology makes it possible to fabricate very small pieces, according to standard ISO 3302-01 :2014 (M2) tolerances, at hardness from 30 to 60 Shores A. The printer also offers a full panel of colors in opaque, phosphorescent, and translucent.

The company is now combining 3D printing with antimicrobial silicone, in order to keep the silicone odor-free, avoid bacteria developing, improve the hygiene of a 3D printed object, and strengthen its immune barrier as well. You can learn more about this antimicrobial silicone 3D printing at STERNE’s Stand E23, Hall 8A, at K 2019.

Protolabs Offering Polypropylene 3D Printing in Europe

For the first time, digital manufacturing company Protolabs is offering polypropylene 3D printing, with the launch of a new service in Europe. The company has invested a lot in developing the material to be used with selective laser sintering (SLS) technology, on an SPro 60 system. SLS 3D printing with polypropylene plastic allows design engineers to rapidly develop and test prototypes, and fabricate complex designs as well, like internal channels and honeycomb structures.

“Polypropylene is one of the most used plastics available to modern manufacturers and is widely used for a number of applications. Polypropylene is one of the most used plastics available to modern manufacturers and is widely used for a number of applications. Now that we can produce a prototype in polypropylene, design engineers can develop and test it in an application using the same material that it will be manufactured from. The product design can then be quickly reiterated and retested until they have the perfect solution, before committing to tooling. This breakthrough takes product development to the next level using the most versatile of plastics, ” said Andrea Landoni, 3D printing product manager for Protolabs.

“Before, if you wanted to use polypropylene then you were limited in what you could design by the manufacturing technology available to you. Now the only limitation is your imagination.”

Hydra Research Releases Flagship 3D Printer

Oregon company Hydra Research, which began in a closet three years ago as a peer-to-peer print service, has announced the release of it flagship 3D printer, the Nautilus. The fully enclosed, industrial-grade desktop system – assembled in Portland – features a quick-change Tool Cartridge system that integrates E3D’s V6 hotend for fast nozzle switching, in addition to an integrated software solution. It also supports a variety of materials, provides Cura profiles for easy slicing, has a small footprint in a sleek frame, and offers customizable HydraCare support and consulting packages

“As a company, our primary goal is producing world-class hardware on an open source platform,” explained John Kray, the Founder and CEO of Hydra Research. “Manufacturers like E3D, Duet3D, and Fillamentum combine these values perfectly.”

You can now purchase Hydra’s Nautilus 3D printer on the company’s website, in addition to spare parts, accessories, and filament.

Discuss these stories and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com or share your thoughts in the Facebook comments below. 

The post 3D Printing News Briefs: October 14, 2019 appeared first on 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing.

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Bondtech Releases Direct Drive System for Creality CR-10S 3D Printer

Established in 2014 by Martin Bondéus, Swedish company Bondtech works to improve one of the key components of 3D printers: extruders. The company develops, designs and manufactures unique dual drive extruders that eliminate the risk of grinding, slipping, under extrusion, and filament deformation. You can have an awesome, high-quality 3D printer, but if the components that make up the system aren’t good, your prints won’t be either. Now, the company has released its latest component – a new Direct Drive System (DDS) for the desktop Creality3D CR-10S 3D printer.

The CR-10S DDR from Bondtech is the the company’s first full 3D printhead set, and comes with a Direct Drive extruder that’s based on Bondtech’s popular BMG version, in addition to an E3D V6 genuine hotend, as Bondtech does not yet manufacture these.

Bondtech really made a name for itself in reliable desktop 3D printing back in 2015, when it came out with its V2 Extruder. Since that time, thousands of 3D printer owners and makers have chosen to upgrade their machines and ensure better, faster prints by using Bondtech’s quality extruders. The company’s innovative Dual Drive Gear technology is continuing to gain a larger presence around the world, as more popular manufacturers keep deciding to adopt the tech as an OEM product.

The company’s new DDS for the CR-10S, which features a build volume of 300 x 300 x 400 mm and has been used to complete such print jobs as a life-size Tyrion Lannister from Game of Thrones, has a new approach when it comes to setup and ease of use. The system comes fully assembled, along with power cables, connection, and a sensor holder. The plug-and-play 3D printhead upgrade set also includes an integrated Bondtech BMG, in addition to the updated, customized firmware and necessary profiles.

Key advantages offered by this new DDS include extrusion control and reliability, and it also makes it possible for CR-10S users to expand on the range of materials they’re able to process. Its design resulted from a cooperation with Bondtech’s community, and 3D printing enthusiast and maker Greg3D created the original casing for the printhead. The system combines the BMG extruder’s push force with the good extrusion control of the V6 hotend.

Tom Jackson of Filament Frenzy said about Bondtech’s new CR-10S DDS, “Reliability is key.”

“It opens the machine up from being a big PLA printer to be a most material within reason big printer.”

Bondtech’s new DDS for the Creality CR-10S 3D printer also marks an important turning point in the available support content the company’s community enjoys. Its new Online Customer Service is launching, and will provide plenty of step-by-step guides and video Instructables.

What do you think about this? Discuss these stories and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com or share your thoughts in the Facebook comments below.

[Images: Bondtech]

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Aleph Objects Introduces New Aerostruder v2 Micro For Highly Detailed, Tiny 3D Printed Parts

This spring, at RAPID 2018 in Texas, Aleph Objects introduced the LulzBot Mini 2, with a belt-driven Z-axis and several accessories, including the LulzBot modular bed system and a next generation Aerostruder Tool Head designed around the E3D Titan Aero hot end and extruder. Now, the company has introduced a new tool head – the Aerostruder v2 Micro, capable of accurately 3D printing parts the size of a penny and demonstrated this week at SIGGRAPH 2018 in Vancouver.

“Many LulzBot users, seeking finer print resolution, have installed after-market nozzles with varying success. However, delivering a reliable high resolution FFF printing experience is not just about swapping out the nozzle. First it requires the best extruder and hot end on the market, which we’ve found in the E3D Titan Aero. From there it’s all about utilizing our knowledge of material properties and thousands of hours of printing experience to hone print profiles that are then extensively tested,” Aleph Objects Product Specialist Adam Straight told 3DPrint.com.

“Frankly, I think some of us are still shocked at the detail possible with this tool head. We’re seeing details on models that weren’t visible before, and we’re printing things that weren’t possible before!”

The Aerostruder v2 Micro Tool Head, which is compatible with the LulzBot Mini 2 3D printer, makes it possible to create extremely precise, finely detailed 3D prints, thanks to the genuine E3D Titan Aero Extruder/Hot End that Straight mentioned. The Titan Aero, with a 0.25 mm nozzle, offers 360° part cooling, which the company says can create detailed prints with great bridge and overhang performance.

UK-based E3D Online Ltd., which develops and manufactures premium 3D printer components, has been partnering with Aleph Objects for two years now. Both companies share the same commitment to developing open source hardware for 3D printing.

“Aleph Objects probably [has] the most useful and interesting array of tool heads for their 3D printers, and E3D is excited to contribute its expertise to a tool head that really pushes the limits of the technology – it’s a lot of fun collaborating with a like-minded company that also trusts their users to really engage openly and freely with the technology,” said Sanjay Mortimer, the Co-Founder and Director of E3D Online Ltd. “There’s a lot more to come from this collaboration, and we feel like we’re just getting started.”

This new tool head is an excellent option for 3D artists, designers, and engineers who want increased surface quality and detail. It allows users to 3D print accurate parts at the penny-scale, while also providing the reliability and convenience that the company’s LulzBot ecosystem is well-known for providing.

“The Aerostruder v2 Micro Tool Head—paired with the LulzBot Mini 2 3D Printer—has changed my perception of what is possible with filament 3D printing,” said Straight. “In terms of resolution and surface finish, the prints from this new tool head are very impressive. The precision of E3D Titan Aero extruders and hot ends complements the premium quality built into every LulzBot 3D Printer.”


The Aerostruder v2 Micro Tool Head from Aleph Objects was showcased, together with the LulzBot Mini 2, at the company’s SIGGRAPH 2018 booth earlier this week. A “micro art gallery” of 3D printed miniature art exhibits was also on display, to show what the new tool head is capable of. The Aerostruder v2 Micro should be available for purchase by the end of next month. If you’d like to be notified when this new product is released, you can sign up here.

What do you think about this new product? Discuss this story, and other 3D printing topics, at 3DPrintBoard.com, or share your thoughts in the Facebook comments below. 

[Images provided by Aleph Objects]