News and Insights of 3D Printing and Manufacturing
As an industry, additive manufacturing (AM) is seeking to disrupt industrial production practices that have been dominated by injection molding for over a century. Today, we are closer than ever to that reality: sophisticated 3D printing technologies are proving to be a viable means for fulfilling new manufacturing philosophies centered on quick turnarounds and smaller-volume production.
Canada has a new 3D design engineering and additive manufacturing powerhouse. Javelin Technologies and Cimetrix Solutions have merged to boost service to their 6,000 customers who drive innovation in every sector of the Canadian economy.
Though RAPID+TCT 2018 may have wrapped up last week, the news from the additive manufacturing event is still rolling in. One of the exciting announcements from the event comes from New York-based metal 3D printing company Vader Systems, which presented three new AM offerings based on its patented Magnet-o-Jet technology. The three new systems include the Vader Polaris liquid metal 3D printing system, the Magnet-o-Jet Subsystem for hybrid manufacturing equipment integration and the Ares Microsphere Production System.
Every major system manufacturer and adopter is working on innovations that could make current DED and metal PBF technologies able to deliver larger parts at lower costs. Australia based Titomic already has that capability and is instead working on getting the word out on its Titomic kinetic fusion technology, which can already 9-meter titanium parts, at supersonic speeds and drastically lower material costs.
Several major 3D printer manufacturers chose the Hannover fair – the largest yearly manufacturing show in the world – to display their newest systems. Many of these represent true paradigm shifts in their specific segment and it is interesting to consider that they all implement different technologies (or at least different technological grades): 3SP photopolymerization, MJF powder bed fusion, FFF extrusion, industrial SLS powder bed fusion, SLA photopolymerization and Benchtop SLS powder bed fusion.
Stratasys introduced the new F900 Production 3D Printer, which is the third generation of the company’s flagship FDM system (previously known as Fortus 900). Features include an MTConnect-ready interface with production-ready accuracy and repeatability. The company also introduced an upgraded J750 – with up to 500,000 color capabilities and a new J735 polyjet system.
This week at RAPID + TCT 2018, 3D Systems is showcasing its portfolio of industry-leading solutions that are helping manufacturers move from prototyping to production and realize competitive advantages. One such platform designed for production is Figure 4 Production and Figure 4 Standalone – the fastest, most accurate 3D printing technology available. Recently released data on Figure 4 Production highlights part print speeds up to 65mm/hr, with prototyping speeds of up to 100 mm/hr. The Figure 4 platform delivers part accuracy and repeatability, with Six Sigma repeatability (Cpk > 2) across all materials. The combination of speed and accuracy complemented by a light-based UV curing process that takes minutes versus hours with heat-based curing processes yields the world’s fastest additive manufacturing throughput and time-to-part.
Ultimaker today unveiled at Hannover Messe the Ultimaker S5, the latest expansion of its professional 3D printer portfolio. The future-ready Ultimaker S5 is fully optimized to fit seamlessly into existing workflows and delivers even more reliable results than before. With its larger build volume, the Ultimaker S5 is the ultimate professional solution for printing functional prototypes, manufacturing tools, and end-use parts.
EnvisionTEC is introducing hardware update to its family of large-frame 3SP 3D printers to deliver best-in-class, 25-micron resolution. The company will now offer XY resolution of 25 microns ― equivalent to about half the cross-section of a human hair — in two of its largest 3D printers: the Vector UHD 3SP, with a build area of 300 x 200 x 275 mm (11.8 x 7.9 x 10.8 in.) and the Xede UHD 3SP, with a build area of 457 x 457 x 457 mm (18 x 18 x 18 in.)
Stereolithography leader DWS Systems will have its first preview of its industrial-grade, large-format XPRO at Rapid + TCT in Fort Worth Texas, April 24-28, 2018.