Posted on

3D Printing News Briefs: September 2, 2019

In this edition of 3D Printing News Briefs, we’ve got stories to share about a new material, a case study, and an upcoming symposium. Liqcreate has released a new 3D printing material for dental professionals. FELIXprinters published a case study about its automotive 3D printing work with S-CAN. Finally, ASTM International will soon be hosting an AM symposium in Washington DC.

Liqcreate Releasing New Dental 3D Printing Resin

Manufacturer of professional-grade 3D printing materials Liqcreate has been hard at work on a new 3D printing resin to help dental professionals optimize their digital workflow and scale up their in-house manufacturing. The hard work has paid off, as the company is announcing the release of its newest material, Liqcreate Premium Model – an accurate, low shrinkage resin for fabricating dental and aligner models.

The opaque photopolymer is matte, and the color of skin. Parts 3D printed with Liqcreate Premium Model have low shrinkage and excellent dimensional stability, and its low odor makes it great for office use. Other benefits include high detail and accuracy, and temperature resistant for aligner production. The resin is compatible with the Anycubic Photon, Wanhao D7, and Kudo3D Bean 3D printers, in addition to all open source 385 – 420nm LCD and DLP systems. You can purchase Liqcreate Premium Model through the company’s distributor network starting September 2nd.

FELIXprinters Publishes Case Study

Dutch 3D printer manufacturer FELIXprinters published a case study about its work with reverse engineering and 3D scanning company S-CAN 3D Ltd, a UK customer which uses FELIX’s AM platforms to manufacture jigs, create casting molds and masters, and prototypes. Founded in 2012, S-CAN also uses FELIX technology to manufacture automotive parts, like the pictured engine block. FELIXprinters offers a range of systems for industrial prototyping and production applications, inlcuding its Pro 3 & Tec 4 series of AM platforms and its new, larger Pro L and XL models.

“We have found FELIXprinters AM platforms to be very easy to use. You can be up and running within a few minutes of getting them out of the box. We run all of our printers through Simplify3D software so you load the profile, pick a material and you are ready to go. In-house we now have the first machine we bought from FELIX back in 2015 (the Pro 1), and a Tec 4.1, a Pro 3 and the new Pro XL. Our first Pro printer has paid for itself 10 times over,” stated James Senior, MD of S-CAN 3D.

“Internally, S-CAN 3D use FELIX 3D printers for prototyping designs. We might do five or more different concept designs of a particular part or component, as it’s much easier to visualise a part when it’s in your hand. We are putting a lot of work through the newly purchased XL printer and it’s opening up things which we wouldn’t have been able to do before (at least to the same quality and size), so things are very encouraging. We have found FELIX machines to be very repeatable which is our most fundamental requirement for any application, and we also haven’t noticed any accuracy degradation over time.”

At the upcoming TCT Show in Birmingham, September 24-26, the two partnering companies will exhibit together at Stand E50 in Hall 3. Visitors will be able to view FELIXprinters’ Pro series of 3D printers, as well as its new advanced, customizable 3D bioprinting platform.

ASTM International’s AM Symposium

Speaking of industry events, ASTM International, which recently announced that it will be hosting its second Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence Workshop in France, will also host a symposium in the Washington DC area. The Fourth ASTM Symposium on Structural Integrity of Additive Manufactured Materials and Parts, held by the ASTM International Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence (AMCOE) from October 7-10 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, National Harbor, Maryland, is designed to give AM professionals a forum to exchange ideas about the structural integrity of 3D printed components and materials, focusing on quality and certification criteria and the lack of design principles and industry standards.

Paper topics for the symposium include the effect of anomalies, process optimization to improve performance, feedstock and its related effects on mechanical behavior and microstructure, and the applicability of existing test methods. Sessions will be organized by sector-specific applications, such as aviation, consumer, maritime, and spaceflight. Registration for the event will be open until October 2nd, 2019.

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: September 2, 2019 appeared first on 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing.

Posted on

3D Printer Manufacturer FELIXprinters Announces Repositioning

Dutch company FELIXprinters has an interesting history. In 2010, Guillaume Feliksdal built a humanoid robot that he had developed during his studies and after. To create some of the robot’s parts, he bought a RepRap 3D printer DIY kit, but was disappointed with its quality, so he decided to build his own 3D printer, which he and his father then marketed as the FELIX 1.0, officially launching the company in 2011. The mission of FELIXprinters was, and still is, to create fit for purpose, upgradeable 3D printers.

The company’s minimalist 3D printers have remained popular, and in 2015, FELIXprinters introduced its first professional machine, the FELIX Pro 1. Now FELIXprinters has announced that it is repositioning itself and its product portfolio to serve the changing needs of the 3D printing industry and its customers. As the interests of those customers has shifted towards professional applications, FELIXprinters is increasing its focus on its Pro series of printers, which were developed specifically to meet the needs of industry users.

“This is a deliberate strategy founded on the belief that our customers, whatever their size or shape, get the best from their use of our 3D printing technologies, when we work with them directly and become a strategic partner and advisor for them,” said Feliksdal. “We work closely with all our industrial customers to ensure that the use of the technology is optimised for each individual application.”

The Pro series currently features the Pro 2 and the Pro 2 Touch, a smart 3D printer with a touchscreen and WiFi connectivity. The printers enable a flexible approach with their high levels of functionality, reliability and ease of use. The series provides engineering solutions for a wide range of applications in prototyping and low volume production.

The FELIX Pro 2

FELIXprinters’ engineers and technicians are also dedicated to providing support services to clients, working directly with them to achieve the best possible outcomes from their 3D printers. While the company has shifted to an industrial focus, however, it also recognizes that its client base is not made up entirely of industrial users, so it doesn’t plan to forget that other customer base. This includes schools and makers, for whom the TEC series is designed.

The TEC series includes the TEC 4, which comes in both assembled and DIY versions – and holds the distinction of having been the one millionth desktop 3D printer sold – the FELIX 3L, and the FELIX 3.1 DIY Kit. FELIXprinters works closely with schools, colleges and universities to provide excellent customer service with this line of 3D printers. Regardless of whether it’s working with industrial clients, schools or individual makers, FELIXprinters prides itself on its attention to the consumer, offering multiple support options through its website and personally.

FELIXprinters has become a trusted brand in a number of industries, including education, engineering, architecture, healthcare, production and research. As the company repositions, customers can be reassured that its focus will remain on them.

Discuss this and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com, or share your thoughts below.

[Images: FELIXprinters]