TriMech Blog

Taking a design from a concept to a physical artifact that exists in the real world is exhilarating. With the design help from SOLIDWORKS in part 1, the analysis help from Simulation in part 2 and help from solidThinking Inspire in part 3, the kayak frames are now optimized for 3D printing. In video four we walk through choosing the proper 3D printing technology and options to build our parts.

So you've finished printing your FDM part, but how do you really make it stand out as a finished product? Color adds depth, contrast and character and ultimately brings a product to life. This is true for concept models, marketing samples and finished goods. The process of turning an FDM part into an eye-catching sample is the same as that for other plastic parts.

These are the five simple steps to make a part come to life:

The Stratasys F900 already holds the title as the most proven and reliable manufacturing 3D printer. But it didn't earn that without continuous improvements. Keep reading to learn about the advancements made to the Stratasys F900 (formally the Fortus 900) in order to uphold their most reliable 3D manufacturing system title. 

For over a decade, companies have tried to pin FDM technology against PolyJet technology. Whether it be the fine detail of PolyJet capabilities outweighing the lack of support needed for FDM, or that the strength of materials available in FDM is worth the additional time of printing over the PolyJet, an argument can usually be made to justify one over the other. Although some industries may always lean one way more than the other, I am here to discuss the benefits of having both technologies under the same roof.

In May 2016, Stratasys released GrabCad Print, a sophisticated 3D printing app that allows designers and engineers to prepare, schedule and monitor 3D printing jobs. Since its release, GrabCAD has continued to make exciting updates to this software; and I will be updating you every month on its new features - May 2018 launches GrabCAD Print 1.16 & 1.17.

It seems like 3D printers can use any material nowadays. Desktop Metal is reinventing the way engineering and manufacturing teams produce metal parts with the ability to print in metal. There are even some printers that can print chocolate, pasta and wait for it— pizza! However, most commercial 3D printers create parts in some sort of plastic. To help you choose which is right for your application, we outline some key material properties below.

Stratasys made not one but TWO big announcements at RAPID, releasing game changers in both their FDM and PolyJet lineup. Keep reading to see what all the buzz is about.

Optimal communication can still be obtained even when there are multiple operators using a 3D printer. One main point of contact should be designated for the printer. This contact should be well-trained and have good communication skills as they will be responsible for explaining the status of their printer, based on the information provided by the operators.

In May 2016, Stratasys released GrabCad Print, a sophisticated 3D printing app that allows designers and engineers to prepare, schedule and monitor 3D printing jobs. Since its release, GrabCAD has continued to make exciting updates to this software; and I will be updating you every month on its new features - February 2018 launches GrabCAD Print 1.14 & 1.15.

We know not everyone eats, sleeps and breathes technology like we do. Which means maybe you haven't dived too deep into what is going to happen in the future with the industry. Since we're tech obsessed, we're constantly following additive manufacturing trends and researching what's in store for the future of 3D printing. Read our top five predictions and tell us what you think.

In the 3D printing world, speed is directly correlated with revenue. Not only do we want to improve time to market, but we also want to be the most efficient with our employees' and machines' time. To help put time back on your clock, we compiled a list of four tips for designing parts and prepping files to be printed on a Stratasys FDM 3D printer. 

Your part isn't always done after the machine goes quiet. Depending on the intended end-use, some 3D printed parts coming off a Stratasys FDM printer will require post processing. To make this process a little easier, we compiled a list of FAQ about post-processing FDM parts.