3D Printing Materials (5) Page 5

Over the past year, we at TriMech have been able to make some fantastic full-color PolyJet models using the Stratasys J750, but as we close in on 2020, Stratasys has just announced the newest addition to their J-series of PolyJet 3D printers, the J850. To celebrate, and also to prepare for Halloween, we’re taking full advantage of what the J-series can do by making some incredible full-color rigid and flexible semi-translucent TriMech lollipops!

Diran (Diran 410MF07) is an FDM nylon-based thermoplastic filament material that is perfect for manufacturing tooling applications. This new material is specifically ideal for jigs, fixtures and typical manufacturing tooling that require a non-marring interface that has interactions between the tool and the work piece. Let's take a closer look at this new FDM thermoplastic.

Stratasys offers multiple 3D printing options to help your designs come to life. FDM printers use production-grade thermoplastics to create parts that are designed to be durable, easily replicated and stable over time. PolyJet printers provide unmatched realism with multi-colored prints and textures. Stratasys has taken them a step further with these new material additions.

SOLIDWORKS Simulation Premium enables you to virtually test real-life scenarios more accurately. It provides you with a wide variety of material models for nonlinear analyses. Elastomers such as rubber, neoprene etc. are materials that go through large deformation very rapidly with relatively a low value of stress or applied load. In this article, we go over the different hyper elasticity material models available in SOLIDWORKS Simulation and how to use them to work with these types of materials. 

Stratasys announces the newest member to their J-series of PolyJet 3D printers: the Stratasys J750 Digital Anatomy Printer (DAP). This latest addition combines the outstanding realism of the popular J750 with anatomical simulation that is so life-like it can replace actual cadaver parts for practice and study. With hundreds of anatomical presets to choose from, this advancement allows you to practice procedures at 70% of the cost of cadavers and other medical models. The J750 DAP is the only printer today able to produce full-color, multi-material, textured models in a single print on a production scale. 

Do you work with living hinges? If you’re in the consumer products space, it's likely that’s a “yes.” A living hinge is simply a one-piece hinge—just a thin, flexible piece made from the same material as the rigid components it connects. Living hinges are found in plastic packaging, dispensing caps, thermoformed clam shell packaging and more. Manufacturing guidelines are easy to obtain for a variety of use cases.

ULTEM is a thermoplastic material that is known for its high strength and heat-resistant properties. It is used in various industries ranging from aerospace to food production. There are many different types of ULTEM resin and each one comes with specific certifications and multiple grade options making it ideal for even the most complex and regulated projects. 

Generally speaking, Fused Deposition Modeling or “FDM” technology (the kind that layers material from spools of filament) is the most common and widely accessible form of 3D printing being used today. Whether you're an absolute beginner to 3D printing or have been using FDM printers for years, it can get confusing when comparing printer options and how important they are to what you are trying to create. With all the different hardware configurations, material options and applications available, it's worth taking a closer look at some of the fundamental features found in consumer-level (or “hobbyist”) printers and those in industrial-grade 3D printers to better understand how either can achieve specific production goals.

Stratasys PolyJet 3D printers and specialty dental materials create multi-color dental models with unmatched accuracy that can mimic gum textures and print complex geometries. These multi-material models enable a variety of applications including orthodontic models, implantology case planning and cast partial frames. This additive manufacturing technology can empower you with more cost-effective interventions, enhanced efficiency, fewer risks and optimized patient outcomes.