3D Systems Corp. is trying to get its ProJet 1500 line of personal 3D color printer (which we have discussed before) into the hands of more business users, and it is marketing the 3D printers as a staple for a wider variety of quick-turn prototyping applications.
With user feedback highlighting the desire for faster prototyping solutions, 3D Systems went back to the drawing board to develop a fast-print material specifically for the ProJet 1500 line. The new Zoom translucent material is being offered alongside the five color material options that were already available for the ProJet 1500.
"Sometimes engineers need a part fast, and they don’t care about color as much as speed," Cathy Lewis, 3D Systems' vice president of global marketing, told us.
The company was able to boost performance by exploring a process that takes some of the opaqueness out of the traditional ProJet printing material and replaces it with a more transparent property, allowing for an accelerated fusion process.
The Zoom translucent material can accelerate print performance on the ProJet 1500 by as much as 50 percent.
On average, ProJet 1500 jobs using the Zoom material will print up to 50 percent faster than those using the traditional color choices, Lewis said. The color materials print at a benchmark of around a half-inch per hour, but the Zoom substance will print at eight-tenths of an inch per hour -- and the time savings can have dramatic impact for engineers looking to fast track the building of a prototype for a design review.
"By nature, the design process is iterative, and there’s usually a lot of issues with a first design," Lewis said. "Half of the time, engineers know the design isn't perfect -- they just need something to show others. This lets them take the first or second draft during the iterative process, get something printed faster, then puts them in a better position to move on and print with the other materials in full color once it's evolved."
Zoom is best suited for fast-turn, first-draft takes on a prototype, she said, but the material has the same structural properties as the traditional color materials, so its use case isn’t limited.
Lewis said 3D Systems developed Zoom specifically for the ProJet 1500 model and doesn't have plans to offer it on its other 3D printers. However, it hasn't ruled out doing so at a later date.
Jim, I do remember our discussion of the early SLAs. The variety of materials used now in AM is quite wide, though, depending on the process and the app combined. It sounds like in this case an increase in the material's ability to transmit light might make it less dense, i.e., translucent. And perhaps that makes it process faster. But that's just a guess. Let's hope the company can tell us more.
Ann & Beth, I was wondering the same thing ... Ann, you and I had discussed the earliest SLA's (circa 1988) in another article recently.As I recall, those early polymers emerged from the liquid vat only partially solidified, then required a period of time in a UV oven, where a dense bank of fluorescent lights in a hooded chamber finalized the hardening process so the prototypes could be handled.Wondering now, if the light transmissivity (sp-?) hardening characteristic of those old polymers is common to this translucent characteristic of this modern material-?
To me, it makes sense that a business using this printing technology for prototyping would want speed first. I would assume that most of the quick-turnaround prototypers mostly want to know how a part fits into a larger assembly
Thanks, Beth, I hope they can give more detail. It's not an obvious connection. Unless I'm missing something, I think what would be more interesting is what was done to the material to make it fuse quicker, but the fact that it's less opaque is secondary.
I hear you in terms of making the connection, Ann. The company spokesperson was scant on details when I asked. Something about the opaqueness adding to the ability to fuse the materials quicker is really the only takeaway I was able to glean. I will reach out to 3D Systems and see I can get them to weigh in a bit more on the technical explanation.
Beth, can you give us more detail about why making the material translucent instead of opaque accelerates the fusion process so it prints faster? I don't get the connection.
This fills a need recognized in many other fields, but difficult for physical parts. We do rapid prototyping in software and, with devices like FPGAs, in logic hardware.
By refining topologies and using new fluid technology, Moog's new peak sine drive controller increases available power without increasing controller volume.
Lantronix Inc. has expanded its line of controllers for sensor networks with the release of a rugged controller that improves management of automation systems used in a number of industries, including manufacturing, oil and gas, and chemicals.
Inspired by the hooks a parasitic worm uses to penetrate its host's intestines, the Karp Lab has invented a flexible adhesive patch covered with microneedles that adheres well to wet, soft tissues, but doesn't cause damage when removed.
From Dell / Intel® New Paradigms in Design Work Scott Hamilton, vertical market strategist for Dell Precision workstations, 5/2/2013 3
Early in my career, I worked as a draftsman and remember the days of drawing on vellum with numbered pencils and Mylar with plastic lead. This was a fun experience in the sense that I ...
I've been using workstations for more than 10 years and love finding ways to get more performance from my system. With demanding professional applications that require more power each ...
A lasting memory from my first job as an engineer in an auto assembly plant is standing on hard concrete at six in the morning, vending-machine coffee clutched in hand, listening to ...
A quick look into the merger of two powerhouse 3D printing OEMs and the new leader in rapid prototyping solutions, Stratasys. The industrial revolution is now led by 3D printing and engineers are given the opportunity to fully maximize their design capabilities, reduce their time-to-market and functionally test prototypes cheaper, faster and easier. Bruce Bradshaw, Director of Marketing in North America, will explore the large product offering and variety of materials that will help CAD designers articulate their product design with actual, physical prototypes. This broadcast will dive deep into technical information including application specific stories from real world customers and their experiences with 3D printing. 3D Printing is
To save this item to your list of favorite Design News content so you can find it later in your Profile page, click the "Save It" button next to the item.
If you found this interesting or useful, please use the links to the services below to share it with other readers. You will need a free account with each service to share an item via that service.
Tweet This
7 
