Stratasys (2) Page 2

If you have kept your ear to the ground on the 3D printing front, you were bound to have heard the rumblings that Stratasys was planning to launch several new technologies this year. That rumbling turned into full quake at Stratasys’s Manufacturing Event, at the end of April, where they introduced three new platforms – effectively doubling Stratasys’s 3D printing technology offering.

Regardless if you were seeing feeds on social media or attending the virtual launch event, the impact of this announcement will be felt across the 3D printing industry. I wanted to take a few minutes to help you understand the significance of these new technologies, as this announcement is a major leap forward in TriMech’s polymer-based 3D printing portfolio. We will review these new offerings, why they matter, and who they matter to.

The demand for reliable and accurate production-level additive manufacturing is growing exponentially, as companies were faced with crippling supply chain issues due to scarcity of raw materials and inhibited labor forces during the Covid-19 crisis. Stratasys has answered this call by expanding their polymeric 3D printing capabilities into SLA and DLP with acquisitions of companies such as Origin and RPS, Most recently, Stratasys continues to grow, by entering into the powder based additive manufacturing market with the introduction of SAF (Selective Absorption Fusion) technology.

Carbon fiber materials and carbon-reinforced polymers can replace metal for lighter, more ergonomic tooling. Add to that the power of additive manufacturing to print the part, rather than machine it, and you can significantly reduce both your part weight and tooling lead time. In this article, we are going to review the differences in printable carbon fiber materials and the machines capable of printing them to understand how the 3D printing industry has created approachable solutions for just about every level of production. 

As an Application Engineer with TriMech, my role often takes me into many manufacturing environments ranging from mom-and-pop machine shops to aerospace manufactures. As different as you may think these facilities would be, we often find a common trend – most custom fixtures, jigs, equipment, and assembly tools are made from aluminum. The biggest reason when asked about this is because “it's what we have always used,” and “it's what the toolroom prefers to work with.” When probed further we usually hear “aluminum is more than strong enough,” so it is chosen for a task that nowhere near approaches aluminum’s tensile strength benefits. There is a wide variety of materials out there other than aluminum that may fit some of these needs better. In this article we’re going to take a look at how printed polymers stack up against it.

As the industry leader in 3D printing, Stratasys is always innovating to meet the current and future demands of the additive manufacturing industry. Sometimes this can lead to so many new product announcements in such a short time that it can be hard to keep track of all the changes, even when those changes are for the better. In this article, we are going to quickly summarize the most recent Stratasys updates, specifically with regards to their growing capabilities with PolyJet technology. 

The new Stratasys J850 Pro PolyJet 3D printer is the latest machine variation in their popular and expanding J-series. What makes this entry unique is that it has been designed specifically to verify concepts quickly and cheaply through its efficient workflow with a wide range of materials (which the series is known for) but not to print realistic color. For a range of certain engineering-specific modeling applications, the resulting lower price-point and absence of "nice-to-have" color options, makes the J850 Pro a very attractive option for those looking to achieve faster product verification, increase their throughput and save valuable time.

Frequently, when producing parts to print on full-color PolyJet 3D printers (like the J55 and J850), we have the need to place logos and icons on our models. When using more traditional means of applying pixel-based graphics or decals on parts can have unpredictable outcomes when exporting for 3D printing. Often, we find it difficult to properly set the resolution of the logo to match the part, which results in logos that have blurry or pixelated edges. In this 3D Printing Video Tech Tip, we talk about how to create sharp-edged logos and icons using SOLIDWORKS.

The Objet30 series of 3D printers is known for providing the power of PolyJet technology in a desktop-sized system. This makes them ideal for any office or studio space that needs to provide detailed prototypes while keeping their workforce and intellectual property in-house. Stratasys recently announced multiple updates to the Objet30 3D printer series with exciting new materials options, faster workflow and a fresh look in their latest generation: the Objet30 V5. 

This week's Product Story showcases Team Penske and how they utilize PolyJet materials to create a custom solution for expensive light replacements on racing cars. 

Motorsport racing, as well as other professional sports, are no match for Team Penske who has a long standing tradition of winning. Part of their success is developing solutions to problems on and off the track. One expensive, recurring problem was the replacement of lights after consistent damage from racing. This led to the utilization of additive manufacturing to test new ideas and generate lower-cost replacement parts. From replacement parts to design ideas, Team Penske draws from the convenience of manufacturing in house.