Among the company’s announcements is the launch of the new ProJet MJP 5600, a 3d printer offering print speeds that it claims are up to twice as fast, with a larger build volume, and part costs that are 40% less than other multi-material 3D printers, such as Stratasys’ Objet350 Connex3 and Object500 Connex3 systems. The ProJet MJP 5600 also features the new 3D Sprint 2.5 software, contributing to productivity by providing improved estimates of build time and material use.
The 3D printer features jetting technology to deliver high-definition parts used for prototyping, functional testing and medical modeling. The system’s multi-material capabilities let users digitally blend rigid and elastomeric materials at the voxel level for mechanical properties that suit a range of applications, including assemblies, rubber-like components, jigs and fixtures, and dies. Coupled with 3D Sprint software, the ProJet MJP 5600 also allows customers to assign different material blends to separate shells within a single part.
The company also announced VisiJet CR-BK, a new rigid black plastic material for the ProJet MJP 5600.
Features of the ProJet MJP 5600 include a 64-bit OS, 10-in. display and on-board capabilities to slice multiple builds simultaneously. This printer replaces the ProJet MJP 5500X. The company will offer an upgrade program for current owners of the ProJet MJP 5500X to protect their investment and achieve the full functionality of the ProJet MJP 5600. The ProJet MJP 5600 will be available in June, and the upgrade program will be available in July.
More stereolithography materials
The company also announced two Stereolithography materials:
Accura HPC (high performance composite) for the ProX 800 combines stiffness with high-throughput production capability for applications such as wind tunnel models, assembly and welding fixtures, and other components where high rigidity and abrasion resistance may be critical.
Accura Phoenix for the ProJet 6000 and 7000 offers clarity and high-temperature resistance, making it a suitable choice for high temperature fluid flow visualizations in complex automotive parts and other applications.
Renault Sport Formula One Team is a user of these materials. Notes Patrick Warner, Manager of Additive Manufacturing at Renault, “Our innovation relies on the ability to produce and test high performance wind tunnel models in large volumes. Accura HPC gives us reliable results in aerodynamic tests, and the high production speeds possible with the material allow us to go through hundreds of parts a week to advance the performance of our car.”
3D Sprint 2.5
3D Sprint 2.5 software supports the company’s current line of stereolithography, multi-jetting (MJP) and colorjet (CJP) 3d printers, including the ProJet MJP 5600.
3D Sprint for stereolithography printers saves time and money, while delivering part quality. The Smart Support technology of 3D Sprint 2.5 produces efficient stereolithography supports for easier removal, improved surface finish and material savings. Other productivity and part quality gains come from improvements to the software’s slicing algorithms.
“3D Sprint is a significant improvement to the existing software,” said Brad Philip, Senior Design Engineer, Amcor Rigid Plastic. “In some cases it is 60 times faster when slicing the build, as well as being more intuitive when it comes to build creation and manipulation.”
3D Sprint 2.5 will be available this week, and licenses are available to current stereolithography, MJP, and CJP customers at no charge. Licenses for 3D Sprint 2.5 are bundled with each supported new printer, with additional licenses available for purchase.
Geomagic Freeform 2017 Hybrid Design Software
3D Systems also announced Geomagic Freeform 2017, 3D hybrid design software aimed at helping customers solve complex design and manufacturing challenges with a single platform.
One area where Geomagic Freeform excels is in the design for mass customization of parts, typically for production through additive manufacturing. Geomagic Freeform 2017 includes production workflows to speed repeated processes for personalized variations of a design. New features include the ability to create 3D text labels or new design components that exactly fit or offset the surface of an existing model. Geomagic Freeform 2017 will be available beginning in June.
3DXpert
3D Systems is bundling its 3DXpert software with all of its direct metal printers to streamline precision metal workflows. 3DXpert will include a new Build Simulation module that allows users to accurately verify and optimize their parts, designs and supports to uncover costly issues before sending parts to print.
3DXpert software saves users time and money by eliminating the need for multiple software packages. The software helps in print preparation, supports and structure optimization, slicing and post-processing tasks.
One user, Metal Technology Inc. (MTI), which specializes in custom parts for aerospace, defense and medical applications, claims the use of 3DXpert with the 3D Systems ProX DMP 320 printer reduced print processing times by up to 75%, improving productivity by 40% or more.
Said Jason Stitzel, Director of Engineering, MTI, “We went from using at least three different software systems to get the final product to doing it all with one. 3DXpert removes the need to convert from a solid model to an STL.”
“Before 3DXpert, running a complicated part through a slicing engine took close to 20 hours to process, slice, run the parameters and create a build file. Now, we do the same build file in just four hours,” Stitzel added.
The program:
–Eliminates the need to convert files into mesh, and improves data quality and integrity by natively working with CAD data (solid & surfaces/b-rep);
–Lets users easily make changes at any stage using history based parametric CAD tools by working in a hybrid (Mesh, Solid and Lattice) modeling environment;
–Accelerates print time while maintaining part integrity using the patent-pending 3D Zoning capability, which allows customers to easily assign different print strategies to different areas of a part based on geometry features, and seamlessly merge them into a single scan-path;
–Minimizes part weight and material with fast creation and editing of micro lattices using structure optimization tools;
–Generates optimal scan-path with printing strategies that take into account the design intent and part geometry;
–Lets users program post-processing operations (such as drilling and milling) in the same software with no need to transfer data to a separate software.
The new Build Simulation reduces the number of trial and error iterations, minimizing build failures, reducing production time and preventing potential printer damage. 3DXpert’s Build Simulation will be available in the second half of 2017.
3D Systems
www.3dsystems.com
