Objet Geometries Ltd., will be showcasing its multi-material 3D printers at the RAPID additive manufacturing event in Minneapolis at booth 104. The Connex multimaterial 3D printers can rapidly build prototypes from a range of 65 materials and can create a single model with up to 14 individual material properties, enabling designers to simulate the true visual and functional characteristics of complexly assembled end products.
As part of the Rapid event showcase, examples of Objet’s multi-material 3D printed models developed by service bureau Vista Technologies will be shown in Vista’s booth (#105), from customers representing consumer electronics, consumer goods, medical device and other industries. Dr. Mike North, President of North Design Labs, LLC will also be giving a special presentation explaining how Objet’s multi-material 3D printing technology is producing unique leg-brace prototypes made of both rigid and flexible elements within the same part, for treating children suffering from clubfoot.
According to Dr North, “The Objet Connex allows us to produce multiple prototypes with different durometers, all in a single print run, to test different designs and combinations of materials. Since our final products will be made of both injected molded soft and hard materials, we needed to be able to prototype complex geometries using various materials. Having access to these prototyping capabilities was essential to our innovation process, which ultimately led to a simple, low-cost design that couldn’t be achieved with any technology other than Objet.”
By being able to rapidly print multiple prototypes, each with slightly different mechanical properties, North Design Labs are able not only to create a lower cost and potentially more effective design, but also get the brace into production much quicker: “The miraclefeet project is truly special for me and my team, as it not only brings a much needed solution to children with clubfoot, but also because the prototypes coming off Objet’s Connex unique multi-material 3D printer provided us immediate feedback on where our design needed to go,” added Dr. North.
“Until you actually see and hold an Objet 3D model printed in multiple materials, it’s almost impossible to appreciate how far inkjet 3D printing has advanced,” said Frank Marangell, President of Objet’s U.S. Operations. “We are talking about the only technology on the market that can simulate the true look, feel and function of an assembled end-product. Our technology can precisely replicate even different mechanical and textural properties within a model, whether it’s a leg brace with soft and hard elements, a mobile phone with soft keys and transparent screen, or a rigid shoe sole with rubber treads. I thank Dr. North for bringing this amazing story to the public and I invite everyone at Rapid to see with their own eyes ‘true product realism’ in action, and how this is solving real-business design issues and bringing products to market faster for many of the world’s leading companies.”
Objet Geometries Ltd.
www.objet.com
Source: :: Make Parts Fast ::
