Leading 3D printer manufacturer 3D Systems has announced a whole host of developments for its 3D printing business.
The South Carolina-based firm has unveiled several new 3D printers, a new redistribution partnership with post-processing system specialist AMT, new additive manufacturing software, and a new industrial-grade resin material.
3D Systems is set to showcase all of its new releases at the company’s booth (Hall 12.1 D101) at Formnext 2021 until November 19th.
“We’re excited to be able to meet with our industry colleagues, collaborators, and customers here at Formnext and introduce new product enhancements in our additive manufacturing portfolio,” said Dr. David Leigh, CTO for additive manufacturing at 3D Systems. “We remain committed to investing in our core technologies that help our customers tackle the toughest production applications.”
The SLS 380 3D printer
The first of the firm’s innovations is the new SLS 380 3D printer, a polymer powder bed fusion system designed to combine repeatability, throughput, and cost-efficiency. The machine will leverage a custom 3D Systems algorithm that manages eight individual heaters simultaneously. It will also offer an in-built high-resolution IR camera to capture over 100,000 thermal data samples every second, enabling users to better control the thermal uniformity in the sintering chamber.
As part of the SLS 380 platform, 3D Systems is also launching its new Material Quality Control system – the MQC 600. The system serves to deliver powder to up to four 3D printers at the same time while maintaining an optimal ratio of fresh to recycled material. The SLS 380 platform is slated for general availability in Q1 2022.
To complement the SLS 3D printing workflow, 3D Systems will also begin reselling automated post-processing systems developed by AMT. This includes the firm’s PostPro line of de-powdering and chemical vapor smoothing devices.
The DMP Flex 350 Dual, DMP Factory 350 Dual, and DMP Flex 200
3D Systems is launching three new Direct Metal Printing (DMP) 3D printers: the DMP Flex 350 Dual, DMP Factory 350 Dual, and DMP Flex 200.
The former two feature a dual laser setup for build time reductions of 50%, while still maintaining the advantages of single laser systems, including flexible application use and quick-swap build modules. The DMP Factory 350 Dual, in particular, will come complete with an integrated powder recycling system. Suitable for a range of applications in sectors such as medical, aerospace, semiconductors, and automotive, these 3D printers will be available in H1 2022.
On the other hand, the DMP Flex 200 is aimed directly at the dental sector, boasting a 500W laser and a 140 x 140 x 115mm build volume. The firm states its new system is designed for applications such as next-day removable partial dentures (RPDs), crowns, bridges, and implant bars, and will be available come Q1 2022.
New 3DXpert 17 software
Bolstering its software portfolio, 3D Systems has also debuted 3DXpert 17, the latest version of the 3DXpert platform developed by software firm Oqton. 3D Systems acquired Oqton in September 2021.
The part preparation and optimization tool allows users to quickly and easily implement design for additive manufacturing (DfAM) into their builds, streamlining production times and improving part performance. The latest upgrade to 3DXpert 17 offers higher yields and faster print times.
Figure 4 Rigid 140C Black resin
Finally, the company has launched its new Figure 4 Rigid 140C Black resin. The epoxy/acrylate mix is intended for industrial-grade parts requiring long-term mechanical stability in harsh environmental conditions. Packed with a proprietary filler material, Figure 4 Rigid 140C Black reportedly delivers toughness characteristics comparable to those of injection-molded polybutylene glass fiber.
3D Systems states the resin is best suited to under-the-hood and internal cabin automotive parts such as end-use clips, covers, connectors, housings and fasteners, electrical latching, and board connectors. Its excellent part-to-part friction also makes the material great for levers, knobs, and clutches.
3D Systems certainly isn’t the only manufacturer showcasing its latest 3D printers at Formnext. XYZprinting, a Taiwan-based manufacturer of polymer 3D printers, is also set to launch its latest high-temperature SLS system at the trade show. Originally debuted back in September, the new MfgPro236 xS is backed by materials company BASF Forward AM and is intended to strengthen the company’s industrial-grade offering.
Dutch 3D printer manufacturer Builder has also recently unveiled the latest addition to its Extreme 3D printer range, the Extreme 1500 HC. The large-format FFF 3D printer can be found on the show floor and is specifically geared for printing higher-performance materials such as ABS, ASA, PET-G, and PAHT CF15.
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Featured image shows the SLS 380 3D printer. Photo via 3D Systems.
