3D Printing Materials (4) Page 4

It is a well-known fact that bringing in additive manufacturing (AM) can help save companies time and (arguably most importantly) money! AM has been used in a variety of applications like jigs, fixtures, concept designs and end-use parts just to name a few. Customers in all fields have felt the benefit of merging AM into their everyday workflow. But many user’s may not be aware that with a few changes they can save even more. In this article, I am going to break down the top five ways you can reduce the time and cost of your FDM printer, in no particular order.

The MakerBot Method line is an open-source platform that brings a world of new options for prototypes right to your desktop. Recently, MakerBot extended the capabilities for their Method platform and launched the Carbon Fiber Edition, which consists of a composite carbon fiber extruder that further expands the printers' production range so that it can create stronger and lighter parts. To expand their material library and enhanced the Method platform's capabilities, MakerBot just launched the new Nylon 12 Carbon Fiber and several Polycarbonate materials. Let's take a look at what is now possible with these new materials.

This week's Product Story showcases nVent and how they utilize Stratasys 3D printing to create a custom solution to an intricate problem.

An electrical solutions company, nVent, specializes in solving unique problems across different industries and faces multiple challenges with needing custom parts created based on each project. Just like any other company that services a wide variety of industries, they face manufacturing constraints with creating specific parts for each client. Machined components are the traditional way of acquiring these parts and can be costly and can take weeks to produce. Let's dive in to how they utilize Stratasys 3D printers to build the part on demand.

The Stratasys PolyJet 3D printing technology lets you produce high-quality, high-accuracy parts and prototypes at a reduced production cost. Many times, however, your prototypes might need a little hand to help you achieve the desired result. In this blog article, we review some of the processes that can help you create the ideal casting molds for your parts or prototypes, such as Liquid Silicone Rubber Molding (LSR), using the PolyJet technology. We review their differences and which materials are suitable for each of these processes to aid you in getting your ideal end-result.

Selecting the right 3D printing technology can be difficult, especially when you consider all the different key drivers in the decision-making process. Are you looking for a smooth surface finish? Maybe you’re looking for strong mechanical properties with a common, easy to use plastic such as ABS or ASA? Now, what if I told you that you didn’t always need to compromise here? With minimal amounts of post-processing techniques, you can achieve a smooth injection molded finish using FDM technology. Sure, parts are fully functional right off the print tray, but utilizing an additional post-processing step can help elevate your part to the next level, and really catch the end user’s eye. Like the flexibility that 3D printing provides, users have many different solutions for their post-processing needs, so let’s dive in!

Raw 3D printing material symbolizes infinite possibilities unlocked by the user’s creativity; however, if the raw material is mistreated and improperly handled, that potential vanishes. Making sure to take proper care of raw materials and store them in their intended conditions is the best way to ensure high quality prints. In times of extended shutdowns, or simply long hiatuses between prints, it’s imperative to store material properly.

3D printing has been in use in the medical industry for years. Most people have seen prosthetics that have been 3D printed. Whether it is a prosthetic for cosmetic purposes or a functioning limb, 3D printing has made these easier and quicker to get and coupled with 3D scanning technology, these prosthetics can also be custom tailored to each individual. This is all great and exciting and ultimately 3D printing will continue to advance prosthetic development. In addition to prosthetics, there are other ways in which 3D printing is changing the healthcare industry. In this article, we look at some of those advancements and how medical professionals and patients are benefiting from them.

Stratasys’ PolyJet 3D printing technology can produce some amazingly detailed parts that can mimic a wide range of rigid and flexible materials – even full-color and transparent parts. With some simple post-printing steps it is easy to obtain a stunning high gloss finish on even the matte surfaces of PolyJet parts. In a previous overview, we showed you how to clear coat complex shaped parts to obtain a gloss surface without any sanding or polishing. In this tutorial, I will show you how to create high gloss, even optically clear finishes, on parts the old fashioned way, with some elbow grease.

When creating multiple iterations of a part, it can be helpful to apply a label for identification purposes. Using SOLIDWORKS, we can apply a label to our part with color and finish, then transfer those settings directly to our printer software for 3D printing on our Stratasys PolyJet machine.