Know Your Materials Page 1

Keeping a properly maintained and efficient running 3D printer takes time and a dedicated schedule so that your printer continues to reliably print parts as it did on day one. In the long run, a properly maintained printer is simply easier to run, more efficient, less trouble, offers better prints and provides a higher ROI. There are four main categories to maintaining your FDM printer so that it continues to produce optimal and reliable prints, and in this article, we’ll break down the maintenance items into four sections. They are calibration, material storage, tips and flicker brush system, and overall cleanliness of the machine.

The idea for this tip came to me as I was working on my remote-control (RC) Ornithopter design. The goal is to securely fasten the flap mechanism for flight and at the same time, a way for me to disassemble when needed. There are a few methods I can use to add threads to this 3D printed part, and in this article, I will add threads using the best method for this application. Glue is an excellent lightweight and strong option, however, I wanted to be able to disassemble my bird. So glue won’t cut it. I needed a better solution. For me, that means incorporating set screws and threads into my design. Let’s look at three methods typically used to add threads to 3D parts and why I chose one method over the others.

Vat photopolymerization, which was first conceived in the early 1980s, laid the foundation for additive as we know it today. Since the early machines and processes, software, hardware and even firmware have been bolstered to withstand harsh manufacturing environments and constant round-the-clock operation. With these advancements in technology, it only makes sense to develop materials in the additive world that exhibit quintessential manufacturing material properties, such as high rigidity, low surface friction or even increased thermal or chemical resistance for applications that require it. Therefore, Stratasys has partnered with some of the leading materials manufacturers across the globe such as Henkel Loctite, DSM and BASF to bring the toughest and highest performing thermoset resins to industry-leading additive platform known as Origin One. Let’s take a look at this impressive 3D printing resin.

In 2021, Stratasys introduced a new flexible material to the PolyJet platform in two different colors. Elastico is the new elastomeric PolyJet material that has a base shore hardness of A 45 and boasts an impressive elongation at a break of up to 400%. Elastico possesses superior tear resistance of more than 7 kg/cm making it an ideal addition to the PolyJet family. Let's take a closer look at this fantastic digital material.

SOLIDWORKS Simulation is a widely used tool to verify designs and minimize the prototyping phase. What if it could be used in conjunction with 3D printing? Well, it can! Engineers can 3D print simulation results with PolyJet 3D printing technology. This is a fantastic way to display information to other engineers and designers about simulation results due to the inherently robust communication with a 3-dimensional, physical copy of a 3D printed part. Teams can better identify hot spots, critical points and deformations by looking at the 3D printed part in their hand. Let's look at how this is done.

As more advanced and reliable solutions come to market to offset the percentage of a market owned by traditional manufacturing methods, additive manufacturing is consistently looked at with admiration. This new technology is currently positioned as a complement to subtractive manufacturing and will continue to do so until certain variables can be tamed with near-flawless accuracy and precision. One step closer to perfection is the addition of anchor columns in GrabCAD Print. Let's take a look at how this works. 

The goal for this project was to create a set of 3D printed mounting brackets that I wanted to bolt to the factory mounting locations at the front valance of my Toyota MR2. The original lower front spoiler on the car was cracked and in very poor shape. To replace this part would be costly and time-consuming, and because of that, I figured why not try and create my own? Let's take a look at the steps I took to create a prototype wind spitter using 3D scanning, SOLIDWORKS and 3D printing.

GrabCAD Print version 1.54 now gives all FDM users access to the Wall Stabilizer tool so they can apply this tool to a 3D print that is tall and thin for better builds. Let’s dive in and take a quick test drive through the interface and check out the options that are available.

Here is another installment in the Know your Materials video series. In this video, we have some samples of the new Vero UltraBlack and Vero UltraWhite PolyJet material. You may be asking “What’s so 'ultra' about these materials?”