3D Systems (NYSE: DDD) announced an addition to its line of Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) production systems with the ProX SLS 6100, a next-generation printing platform that enables customers to seamlessly scale from functional prototyping to low volume functional production parts.

By combining the printer, new materials, software and cloud-based services, this system addresses the majority of the plastic prototyping and production needs of the automotive, durable goods, and healthcare industries as well as satisfying specific needs for aerospace interior cabin parts. The ProX SLS 6100 also delivers larger parts.

Also announced is the introduction of three new production-grade nylon materials to its broad portfolio of production SLS materials. These new solutions are:

–DuraForm ProX FR1200 material delivers FAR 25.853 compliance, meeting the flame retardancy thresholds required by the Aerospace market for interior cabin parts. The material meets AITM Smoke Density and Toxicity Requirements, and its nonhalogenated formulation has a favorable health profile. Parts produced with DuraForm ProX FR1200 possess excellent surface quality and a vibrant white color that is suitable for post-processing and painting.

–DuraForm ProX EX BLK is a high-durability nylon 11-based plastic derived from renewable non-petrochemical based resources. Tough enough to replace CNC/molded ABS and polypropylene, this material delivers functional production parts with high durability and impact strength, and excellent fatigue-resistance for long-term usage. The black color of the material eliminates the need for dying or painting. These properties make DuraForm ProX EX BLK suitable for short production parts that will see repeated use and wear, vehicle dashboards, grills and bumpers, and snap fit enclosures that will be subjected to repeated cycling.

–DuraForm ProX AF+ aluminum- and mineral-filled nylon 12 suits the production of high stiffness components that require heat resistance while under load (e.g., casings, covers and housings for motors, small engines or HVAC systems), as well as parts requiring an aluminum aesthetic. The material is for applications in the automotive, aerospace and consumer goods industries that need functional production parts with smooth surface finish that are also suitable to secondary processes such as drilling, polishing, and taping. The metallic finish also makes DuraForm ProX AF+ a good material for prototyping of bezels, buttons and knobs where a metal-like finish might be desired.

“We are at an inflection point in the 3D printing industry and critical elements like accuracy, durability, repeatability and lower total cost of operation are critical for our customers’ success,” said Vyomesh Joshi, president and chief executive officer, 3D Systems. “By combining production-grade nylon materials, an advanced software workflow and new SLS technology, the ProX SLS 6100 forms a versatile solution for functional prototyping and direct 3D production.”

With automated materials handling through the material quality control (MQC) system, the ProX SLS 6100 provides continuous automatic sifting and filtering with maintenance-free transportation of material to the printer. A new air-cooled laser eliminates the need for a chiller, delivering greater efficiency and lower total cost of operation. Finished prints feature a smooth surface, with the highest resolution and edge definition of any SLS system.

3D Systems’ 3D Sprint is an additive manufacturing software that prepares and optimizes CAD data and manages the SLS print process. The software includes tools for high-performance, high-density 3D nesting, quality checks for pre-build verification and a sinter cage structure generator, bringing high performance and productivity to the ProX SLS 6100 production process.

The 3D Connect Service provides a secure cloud-based connection to 3D Systems’ service for proactive and preventative support to enable better service, improved uptime and production assurance for systems. Through 3D Connect Manage, the user can also manage and monitor their equipment with anytime, anywhere access to their print jobs, system performance metrics and usage.

3D Systems
3dsystems.com/sls6100