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Wayland Additive to Launch Calibur 3 Production 3D Printer in January 2021

U.K. company Wayland Additive, spun out from engineering firm Reliance Precision, licensed the metal AM NeuBeam process from its parent company with an aim to commercialize it by 2021. This goal will soon become a reality, as Wayland has announced a major milestone — it will be commercially launching the Calibur 3, its first production NeaBeam 3D printing system, on January 27th of 2021.

“We are very happy to confirm the launch date for the Calibur 3,” Peter Hansford, the Director of Business Development for Wayland Additive, stated in a press release. “On 27th January next year we will be unveiling the full specs of the machine to our early adopters and partners as well as to the press at a dedicated event. Currently the plan is to bring people in to see it in action for themselves if we are able to with Covid 19 restrictions, but we will also be live-streaming the event for interested parties that may not be able to attend. 2020 has been an unprecedented year in many ways and the global pandemic has caused a great deal of disruption and uncertainty. At Wayland, however, we have been able to navigate through these difficulties and keep our focus on the development of our system. Talking to industrial users of metal AM throughout, it is clear that despite the disruptions, many companies are still making medium and long-term plans, and we look forward to serving them with our ground-breaking technology.”

NeuBeam metal AM technology is an electron beam powder bed fusion (PBF) process, and was created from the ground up, by a team of in-house physicists, in order to negate most of the compromises made when using metal 3D printing for part production. The process can actually neutralize the charge accumulation you normally see with electron beam melting (EBM), which enables more flexibility. The creators used physics principles learned in the semiconductor sector to come up with this unique method, which, as the press release states, is able to overcome “the inherent instabilities of traditional eBeam processes,” along with the typical internal residual stresses that occur with PBF technologies.

Wayland’s NeuBeam technology can print fully dense parts in many different materials, including highly reflective alloys and refractory metals, which are not compatible with traditional laser PBF and eBeam processes; this results in much better metallurgy capabilities. NeuBeam is also a hot “part” process, instead of a hot “bed” process, as it applies high temperatures to the part only, and not the bed. This allows for free-flowing post-build powder and stress-free parts with less energy consumption, which makes for more efficient part printing.

The soon-to-launch Calibur 3 printer is an open system, and was specifically designed by Wayland to be used for production applications. That’s why the company made sure to add completely embedded in-process print monitoring to the system’s features, which allow users to enjoy full oversight during the process and rest easy knowing each part has full traceability.

“Save the date in your diary now. We are in the process of curating an impressive in-person and on-line event which will be of huge interest to industrial sectors that use or are planning to use metal AM for production applications,” said Will Richardson, Wayland Additive’s CEO. “January 27th 2021 will be a pivotal day for Wayland, but also a pivotal day for industry as they get a first clear view of the opportunities that exist through the use of our NeuBeam technology.”

NeuBeam technology

Wayland has said that it plans to start shipping the Calibur 3 to customers later in 2021.

(Source/Images: Wayland Additive)

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3D Printing Webinar and Virtual Event Roundup, August 16, 2020

We’ve got virtual events and webinars this week covering everything from sustainability and forming to metal and medical additive manufacturing. Read on to learn what’s available!

NatureWorks 3D Considers Sustainability in AM

Biotechnology company NatureWorks 3D is hosting a webinar this Tuesday, August 18th, at 1 pm EDT, titled “Printing Consciously: Considering Sustainability in 3D Printing.” The free webinar will last about one hour, and cover topics such as circular vs. linear model of materials, mechanical and chemical recycling, best practices for used FFF 3D printing materials, environmental impacts of using bio-based and petrochemical-based filaments, and more. Dan Sawyer, the company’s Business Development Manager, and Deepak Venkatraman, Applications Development Engineer for NatureWorks, will share some thoughts and insights into how polymers fit into the circular economy approach in order to decrease the AM industry’s impact on the world.

“A renewed focus on climate change and the impacts petrochemical plastics have on the environment has many individuals and companies considering how they can incorporate more sustainable practices into their efforts. The additive manufacturing industry has long been a leader in how technology can fit into a progression toward a more sustainable production. In this webinar, we will dig into the sustainability attributes behind the materials often used in fused filament fabrication (FFF) processes that have an environmental impact. We’ll also talk about how 3D prints fit within common waste scenarios as well as new sustainability frameworks like the circular economy.”

There will be a question and answer session at the end of the webinar; register here to attend.

EOS Introduces the INTEGRA P 450

Also on August 18th, EOS is holding a webinar at 2 pm EDT to introduce its latest system, titled “From R&D to Production: Introducing the INTEGRA P 450.” This mid-size, SLS industrial additive manufacturing system was developed by EOS North America, based off of direct feedback from the manufacturing community and built to “meet the demand for additive manufacturing of polymers, it empowers designers, production engineers and material makers alike.” In addition to gaining an understanding of the INTEGRA P 450‘s material compatibilities and development opportunities, attendees will also learn about the company’s new open software platform. Speakers will be Fabian Krauss, EOS North America’s Global Business Development Manager, Polymers; Mohit Chaudhary, Additive Manufacturing Specialist, Polymers – Solution Engineering, for EOS North America; and Mike Conner, EOS North America’s Vice President of Service and Support.

“Discover how the INTEGRA P 450 is truly the most flexible and accommodating SLS industrial 3D printer on the market, with an impressive array of new user-friendly features that offer unprecedented productivity, material compatibility, and simple serviceability.”

Protolabs Discussing Forming and Formed Features

As part of its ongoing webinar series, Protolabs will be discussing sheet metal forming during its webinar, “A Deep Dive on Forming and Formed Features,” on Wednesday, August 19th, at 2 pm EDT. James Hayes, Protolabs Applications Engineer and the company’s technical applications engineering expert for sheet metal fabrication, will offer insight into forming techniques and equipment, as well as important design considerations for sheet metal forming, and how they can impact part geometry. You’ll leave with new knowledge and insight into how to leverage formed features, and improve sheet metal part designs.

“Understanding the ins and outs of sheet metal forming can be fraught with challenges, however there are some important things to know that can result in better designed, more cost-efficient parts. In addition, considerations between how different formed features can impact your product throughout its’ lifecycle can help you achieve your product goals and bring your ideas to market at record speeds.”

ASME’s AM Medical Live Webinar

Last week, ASME was powering the AM Industry Summit, for 3D printing professionals working in the aerospace and defense and medical device manufacturing fields. Now it’s hosting a live webinar this Thursday, August 20th, from 2-3 pm EDT, supported by Women in 3D Printing and titled “Integrating 3D Printing with Other Technologies at the Point of Care.” Speakers will be Sarah Flora, the Radiology Program Director for the 3D Lab at Geisinger Health; Amy Alexander, MS, Senior Biomedical Engineer at the Mayo Clinic’s Anatomic Modeling Lab; and the Director of the 3D Imaging Lab at Montefiore Medical Center, Nicole Wake, PhD. They will be discussing how 3D printing is often a very important medical tool when it comes to patient care.

“Whether anatomical models or guides are used for education or surgical planning, radiologists, surgeons, and engineers work together to improve the patient experience. Leveraging 3D printing with other technologies can expand the value within a clinical setting. Three leading clinical engineers will discuss technologies that can be used together to extend the usefulness of 3D printing including silicone casting, surface scanning, augmented reality, and more. Join the discussion to explore the unexpected ways to increase the benefits of 3D printing.”

The webinar is free to attend, and you can register for it here.

IDTechEx on Metal Additive Manufacturing

Finally, also on August 20th, IDTechEx will be holding its latest free, expert-led webinar, “Metal AM: Short-Term Pain, Long-Term Gain.” Presented by Dr. Richard Collins, IDTechEx’s Principal Analyst, the webinar, which shares some research from the company’s detailed “Metal Additive Manufacturing 2020-2030” report, will provide an overview of the latest key trends and market forecast for metal additive manufacturing, the latest material considerations and entrant analysis, technology benchmarking, the impact of COVID-19, and more.

“Metal additive manufacturing has been gaining traction. Increased number of use-cases, end-users progressing along the learning curve, more competition, and a maturing supply chain. The applications have been led in high-value industries most notably aerospace & defence and medical, many more are emerging in automotive, oil & gas, and beyond. These sectors have had very different fates during the global pandemic and the knock-on effect will be profound. There are some silver-linings and the long-term outlook is positive for this industry, but it will not be an easy ride. IDTechEx forecast the total annual market for metal additive manufacturing to exceed $10bn by 2030. This is not before a very challenging immediate future; a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Three different sessions of this 30-minute webinar will be offered, the first of which will actually take place at 9 pm EST, on the 19th. The next one will be at 5 am EST, and the final session will be at 12 PM EST. You can register for your preferred session here.

ASTM’s AM General Personnel Certificate Program

Don’t forget, the ASTM International Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence (AM CoE) is still offering its online AM General Personnel Certificate course, which continues through August 27th and is made up of eight modules covering all the general concepts of the AM process chain. Register for the class here.

Will you attend any of these events and webinars, or have news to share about future ones? Let us know!

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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)

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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)

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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)

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RIZE Introduces Adaptive 2XC Desktop 3D Printer for Offices, Schools, and Homes

In 2016, Massachusetts-based 3D printing company RIZE Inc. released its first industrial-grade desktop 3D printer, the Rize One, renowned for its safety, low emissions, and elimination of post-processing. Then, in 2018, the company introduced the first industrial desktop AM solution for manufacturing full-color functional parts, the XRIZE system, which I was lucky enough to test out at RAPID 2019. Today, it’s announcing a new kind of desktop 3D printer, the professional RIZE 2XC, an adaptive system that was developed collaboratively with South Korean 3D printer manufacturer Sindoh.

I spoke with RIZE CEO Andy Kalambi ahead of the release, who told me that even during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the company has been “very productive.”

“It’s been an interesting time, but rewarding,” Kalambi said.

He said that the RIZE team speaks every morning during a check-in meeting, to make sure everyone is doing okay and see if anyone needs help with a project. Even during lockdowns across the US, the company has been busy, 3D printing personalized face shields that were distributed to hundreds of essential and healthcare works in the Boston area and working on the new 2XC.

“Entirely during COVID times, we developed this new printer with Sindoh,” he told me.

The RIZE 2XC was engineered from home offices, and, according to a RIZE press release, is a testament “to the safety principles embodied in RIZE’s solutions – principles that are especially relevant today as organizations reinvent workflows for a return to office locations.” The business supply chain needs to be even more flexible now due to COVID, and RIZE says its new printer can help. The 2XC can be used at home – no need to worry about germs spreading from lack of social distancing – and in offices and classrooms, with no fear of releasing harmful airborne volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

“The newer, higher performance, safe materials from next-gen FFF players such as RIZE are helping to drive a transformation in the 3D printing sector that are particularly relevant now as the world emerges from a pandemic. The durability and safety advantage that’s possible from next-generation 3D printing systems merits the attention of any engineering or design team that wants to give their users the best, and safest, tools,” Tim Greene, research director, 3D printing, for IDC said in the release.

The adaptive printer is the first deliverable to come from the RIZIUM Alliance, which is a new collaboration between RIZE and industry partners, like Sindoh, to drive safer, more sustainable 3D printing. The RIZE 2XC was made with a redesigned Sindoh dual-extrusion 3D printer, which can run engineering-grade RIZIUM materials that are moisture-resistant, recyclable, and zero emission.

“We based our material on safety – it’s engineered for safety, durability, and strength,” Kalambi told me. “They’re medical grade, and especially in today’s context, things like sanitizing and being able to wash it with alcohol or acetone is important. Materials science is our differentiating factor.”

Kalambi told me that the ‘C’ in the company’s new 2XC printer stands for ‘composite,’ since RIZE takes a “material-led approach.”

“What we have done now is taken our material portfolio and partnered with industrial players, so we can offer it to a broader market of users.”

Sindoh is applying the innovative RIZIUM materials, engineered for user health, so that customers in various sectors on its platform can use a safe, sustainable material at a lower price.

“With Sindoh, we’re working with the same materials,” Kalambi explained. “We have done lots of engineering efforts with them to get the printer ready for our materials, worked on nozzles and the drive train and the slicer, all of that, and made the printer far more robust. It’s a printer that is a joint product. It’s a new hybrid platform, releasing a set of products with Sindoh that’s based on our polymers and materials science.”

The two independent extruders on the RIZE 2XC are designed for composite filaments and hardened materials. One extruder runs RIZIUM polymers and composites, which can be washed with just soap and water, while the other runs the unique RIZIUM Support, created by RIZE specifically for filament-based extrusion 3D printers. All in all, RIZE says that its new printer offers a safe way to fabricate durable, strong, functional components, without any unnecessary post-processing.

“The RIZE 2XC is especially well-suited for a variety of Industrial and Academic applications,” Ricco Busk, Director at RIZE partner CADSYS, stated. “Given the high demand for having 3D Composite Parts, we are able to, almost immediately, sign up a customer for the RIZE 2XC to use in their innovative plastic molding applications, such as robotic grippers. Combining RIZE’s material advantage in the high quality, easy to use 2XC 3D platform opens doors to new markets for 3D printing that need precision parts made safely and sustainably.”

Kalambi told me that the RIZE 2XC has plenty of great features, such as a heated build plate, a camera for monitoring prints, and automatic bed leveling. Because the company’s Augmented Polymer Deposition (APD) platform has not been added, the system does not print in color, but he said that it does have “a much bigger build volume” in comparison to other desktop printers.

“It’s great for home and office use, as those industries wanted a good printer within a certain price point,” Kalambi explained. “Lots of 3D printing is being done in schools and offices, which is why we partnered with Sindoh…they have lots of knowledge in the education field. That industry had a requirement for a low-cost printer, and RIZE wanted to be able to offer a more affordable option.”

Kalambi also said that the RIZE 2XC is great for 3D printing industrial parts.

According to the RIZE release, this new printer is the first that has brought “safe, sustainable 3D printing” to the industry’s compact sub-$5k market, which can help organizations struggling to get back on their feet in a post-pandemic world get a leg up over the competition.

“Sindoh’s cooperative R&D effort with RIZE showed us that we chose the right partner indeed – a partner as committed to innovation in materials and technologies as we are. We’re delighted to expand our reach into more segments of the market through the cooperative solutions we are creating with RIZE,” said BB Lee, CEO, 3D Printing Division at Sindoh Co., Ltd.

The RIZE 2XC will be available from RIZE’s network of channel partners starting June 30th, for an introductory price of $3,995 in the US market and €3,995 in Europe. In the meantime, I’ll be keeping my ear to the ground, because Kalambi said RIZE will have some more exciting news to share with us in mid-July.

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Stratasys Introduces Full-Color, Office-Friendly J55 PolyJet 3D Printer

It was only a few months ago that Stratasys introduced its latest PolyJet system, the J826, at 3DEXPERIENCE World 2020. This week, it’s unveiling the new J55 3D printer, which costs roughly a third of the price of the company’s enterprise-class PolyJet systems (100K versus $260k) giving product design teams fast, full-color, office-friendly 3D printing in one package.

“We developed this innovative new 3D printer to truly transform the product development process for product designers and engineers everywhere. Not only does the J55 fit the budget of virtually any product design team, but the quality of the parts you can 3D print are best in class. It’s so simple that anyone can set it up and use it, and it’s so quiet you’ll forget it’s running,” said Omer Krieger, Executive Vice President of Products at Stratasys.

The J55 is unique in many ways, starting with a patented, first-of-its-kind rotating build platform with a fixed print head that makes maintenance easier and increases reliability. Something else that’s increased is the machine’s output, even though its footprint is smaller at 4.6 sq. ft. This fact, coupled with ultra-quiet operation and ProAero filtration for odor-free operation, makes the J55 a great solution for product design offices.

The J55 3D Printer operates using a first-of-its-kind rotational printing platform, maximizing print reliability and offering greater output from a small footprint.

In developing the J55, Stratasys prioritized a simpler print workflow for designers. The 3D printer is supported by GrabCAD Print software, so that multiple common CAD files, like CATIA, Inventor, PTC Creo, Siemens NX, and SOLIDWORKS, and 3MF files, can be imported easily. Additionally, Stratasys is adding support for the latest 3MF color workflow for the first time through the use of KeyShot 3D rendering software from Luxion Inc.; this capability is currently in beta testing and is planned for later this year.

Designed to fit design studios and office spaces, the Stratasys J55 suits the budget of virtually any product design team, without compromising on part quality.

“We know that the risk and time involved with traditional prototyping simply doesn’t work anymore, yet there’s no room for compromise on design. Designers can and should do a lot more prototyping in-house, from initial concept modeling to highly realistic final prototypes,” said Tim Greene, a 3D printing research director at IDC, about how the product design process needs to change in order to match the current industry. “It’s just been a matter of bringing enterprise quality to a design shop’s price point and workspace. And now we’re there.”

Stratasys says that the J55 was created as a “smaller but equally capable complement” to its enterprise J8 series. The system offers the same great detail and resolution as the rest of the series, its 3D printed models match the color, finish, material, and shape of final products, and the entire design process is supported with same day send-to-print and little post-processing required.

The J55 opens up advanced full-color, multi-material 3D printing to everyday designers, giving them the power to significantly enhance product development.

Tony Guard, the Director of Innovation and Industrial Design at Kinetic Vision, stated, “There is no way to validate 2D designs without a realistic 3D model, it’s simply not possible.”

The Cincinnati-based company, designated an “essential business” during the COVID-19 pandemic, employs 175 people and creates products for businesses of all sizes, ranging from startups to Fortune 50 companies, in many industries, including aerospace, consumer electronics, medical, and packaged goods. Kinetic Vision is using the new J55, but with employee capacity so low, it seemed setup would be difficult. But Guard says a single employee, with remote support from Stratasys, was able to do it.

“My jaw dropped when I saw what the machine could do. We can validate products faster with form, color, finish, graphics, everything. We can offer our clients tangible 3D-printed models that represent a final retail product, faster than we ever could before,” he said. “I’d love the J55 to be our secret strategic advantage, but I don’t think it will be a secret for long.”

The J55 3D Printer combines realism and productivity, including high fidelity and five simultaneously printed materials that enable nearly 500,000 colors, PANTONE Validation, realistic textures and transparency in one printed part.

The J55 mixes productivity and realism so that users can achieve fast, full-color, and realistic designs. It offers high fidelity and full CMF (color, material, finish) capabilities, including five high-performance PolyJet materials, including support, that can be printed at the same time – allowing operators to avoid downtime due to material changes. The printer enables nearly 500,000 X-Rite-based color profiles, multiple textures, PANTONE validated color, and transparency with VeroClear material; VeroUltraClear will available later this year.

Other specs include:

remote monitoring
22-liter maximum build volume
accuracy of ±100μ
hands-free soluble support removal
503 lbs

Orders are being taken now for the new Stratasys J55 3D printer, which is expected to ship in July 2020. Check out the video here to learn more about the J55.

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

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Mimaki USA Releases New Large-Scale 3DGD-1800 3D Printing System

Wide-format inkjet printer and cutter manufacturer Mimaki USA, an operating entity of Mimaki Engineering in Japan, is expanding its existing 3D printer offering with the new large-scale Mimaki 3DGD-1800 system, which complements the company’s full-color UV-cure inkjet 3DUJ-553 3D printer and 3DFF-222 desktop system. Due to its size, the new 3DGD-1800 is a great choice for 3D printing dimensional displays for multiple applications.

Mimaki USA develops and builds a full line of digital printers and cutters, and provides a total workflow solution for applications in the industrial 3D printing, art, sign graphics, and textile and apparel markets. Its new 3DGD-1800 3D printer, which offers a processing speed that’s three times faster than what conventional FFF and other extrusion-based systems can provide, creates large-scale prints using Gel Dispensing Printing technology, which sounds similar to Massivit 3D’s proprietary GDP method that combines FDM and SLA techniques.

Mimaki’s newest 3D printer offering, weighing in at 2,500 kg, is able to create a figure that’s 70.8″ high in only seven hours, with a maximum build weight of 150 kg and dimensions of 57” x 43.7” x 70.8”. The 3DGD-1800 has an assembly-based design, which allows users to print massive objects that, as Mimaki USA puts it, far exceed “the size of the formation area.” Additionally, because the system does not need to use support materials for internal structures, it can print objects with hollow interiors at a higher rate of speed than conventional 3D printers, “which can later accommodate infill material or be left open.”

Mimaki 3DGD-1800 3D printer

The Mimaki 3DGD-1800 features a dual-printhead configuration, which helps decrease production time as it can provide output for two different structures simultaneously. Its MG-100W material, which is a white UV-curable resin, is a good choice for applications that are lit internally with LED modules. The printer is a complete solution for fabricating large-scale 3D objects, and includes easy to use 3DGD slicer software.

Example application

The printer’s surface be decorated with output from Mimaki’s inkjet printers, and specialty graphics producers can add a desktop 3DFF-222 or full-color 3DUJ-553 as supplementary systems if they’re also interested in printing smaller 3D figures and models with fine details. The new Mimaki 3DGD-1800 is a great system for manufacturing large, colorful items, including channel letters and logos, event decorations and product mock-ups, movie props and sets, interior design elements and entertainment promotions, vacuum molds, interior-illuminated signage, museum/POP/window displays, and more.

Additional specs for the new Mimaki 3DGD-1800 include:

Ethernet
1.8 / 2.6 mm diameter nozzle
Supports standard STL, OBJ, 3DS, ply, blend file formats

The new large-scale 3DGD-1800 3D printer is now available for purchase through Mimaki USA. With this new addition, Mimaki now offers more 2D and 3D printing solutions than any global wide-format digital printing company.

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(Images: Mimaki USA)

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Tractus3D Introducing Latest Large Volume 3D Printer, the Office-Friendly T2000

Dutch 3D printer manufacturer Tractus3D specializes in making Delta-style, large-format systems that are, according to its website, “more reliable, versatile and future proof than most others in the market.” The company is the 3D printing market leader in outdoor signage, though its tough, high quality printers can also be found working in the automotive, construction, healthcare, and manufacturing industries.

Through a partnership with Innofil3D, Tractus3D offers inexpensive filament to its customers, though its 3D printers are also open if anyone wants to use their own materials, and the company’s large volume systems are “born from a passion for perfection.”

The company has three different 3D printer series, in addition to several available add-ons and upgrades. The Desk series, for 3D printing smaller objects, includes the T1250, T850, and T650 3D printers, while the Pro series consists of the high temperature, industrial T850P and T650P systems. The Large Volume series is made up of the T3500, which can print objects up to 2.1 meters high, and the T3000, able to print 1.45 meters high. This week, Tractus3D welcomed a new addition to this series – the T2000 3D printer, “our perfect sized industrial 3D printer.”

“As you know at Tractus3D, we are always looking for new opportunities to offer our clients,” the company wrote in an email. “This is the moment we can officially introduce our newly developed 3D printer: the T2000.”

The new large volume T2000 3D printer offers a printing height of 1 meter, and a width of 68 cm. Even though it is a large-format system, it’s still small enough at 2 meters tall and 82 cm wide to fit through a door and be placed comfortably in any workspace or office.

“One of our passions is large volume printing. With our T3500 and T3000 we have two of the biggest 3D printers in the world. However, we noticed that large volume is also needed in a smaller space, say in every normal office. That’s where our latest 3D printer comes in,” the Tractus3D website states.

The new T2000 3D printer, which Tractus3D has labeled a plug and play system, provides extremely high accuracy when it comes to fabricating large objects, and it also features a closed chamber, which offers good temperature stability and helps to minimize the chance of prints warping. It has a fast printing speed of up to 400 mm per second, and also includes a flying extruder, a 7″ LCD touchscreen for ease of use, an F033L printhead with a fan unit, and an upgrade to the latest firmware 3.0.

Additional specs for the T2000 include:

net weight of 175 kg
automatic bed leveling
XYZ resolution of 20, 20, 50 microns
heated build plate (up to 110°C)
good layer resolution for five different nozzles

If interested, you can request a quote for the T2000 3D printer here. Tractus3D will begin shipping the new system in May 2020, on a first come, first serve basis.

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

(Images: Tractus3D)

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Metal 3D Printing: SHINING 3D to Present EP-M250 Pro at Formnext

Formnext 2019—held in Frankfurt, Germany—does not actually begin until November 19; however, there is already a torrent of news flowing in about the many innovations to be shown off through the 22nd. SHINING 3D will be there in full force, presenting the new EP-M250 Pro 3D printer.

As the latest in the SHINING 3D line of additive manufacturing solutions, the EP-M250 Pro 3D is a metal 3D printer, operating with dual lasers. Employing advanced metal powder bed fusion (MPBF) technology, the EP-M250 Pro is efficient at converting 3D files with complex geometries into 3D printed metal parts capable of high performance. In their recent press release regarding Formnext, the SHINING 3D team explains that this new 3D printer is meant for small-batch production of medium-sized parts.

With an impressive build volume of 262x262x350mm and precise control via the dual lasers, the EP-M250 Pro is designed for greater affordability in production due to high material consumption rates, and real-time monitoring of the 3D printing process. The SHINING 3D team also designed this new 3D printer with an optimized filter and unique gas flow management system.

“The SHINING 3D industrial line of 3D scanners and printers continues to grow to meet customer demands. As the industry continues to grow and adapt additive manufacturing solutions to various applications it is important that companies remain flexible in such a dynamic and ever-expanding field,” states SHINING 3D in their recent press release. “SHINING 3D looks to continue making professional 3D solutions accessible for all levels of customers. The EP-M250 Pro is the latest product in this endeavor.

“SHINING 3D prides itself on creating accessible 3D solutions for all and the industrial line of products are no exception.”

Visit the SHINING 3D booth (Hall 11.0, C49) at Formnext to catch the EP-M250 Pro 3D printer in action, as well as checking out 3D printed samples. The SHINING 3D team will also be exhibiting their premier metrology 3D scanners, their reverse engineering and design bundle, digital dental solutions, and even 3D digitizing solutions for footwear—including a 3D scanner for feet.

“Formnext is shaping up to be quite the event and SHINING 3D is excited to be a part of it.”

Founded in 2004, SHINING 3D is headquartered in Hangzhou, China. As pioneers in the research and development of 3D printing, they offer solutions for application such as:

Industrial manufacturing
Healthcare and life sciences
Product customization
Education

Currently, SHINING 3D works with customers in over 70 countries in:

Asia Pacific
Europe
North America
South America
Africa
Middle East

SHINING 3D continues to be a dynamic force within the 3D printing realm, from their continued international expansion to presenting new software options, scanners, and hardware.

What do you think of this news? Let us know your thoughts! Join the discussion of this and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com.

[Source / Images: SHINING 3D]

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