3D Systems Demonstrates Digital Manufacturing Solutions as Cost Effective Alternatives to Traditional Manufacturing


  • Digital Molding, powered by the company’s Figure 4 technology, delivers rapid, tool-free, continuous production of plastic parts
  • New materials drive digital casting and other advanced applications
  • 3DXpert and 3D Sprint platforms streamline and simplify the design to manufacturing workflow for metal and plastic 3D printers

FRANKFURT, Germany, Nov. 15, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) showcased today how advancements in its digital manufacturing technologies can offer viable, enhanced alternatives to traditional manufacturing processes. By providing access to accelerated, cost-efficient means of production, 3D Systems provides its customers a competitive advantage in designing and manufacturing unique and low volume products. At formnext 2016, the company highlighted three key technology innovations driving this shift: Digital Molding, materials innovation and advanced software solutions.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/966d2ff7-6d4a-4e47-9e7a-38476459f136

Digital Molding, powered by 3D Systems’ Figure 4 technology, enables the rapid, tool-free, continuous production of plastic parts with improved efficiency, design flexibility and economics as compared to traditional methodologies. It is a modular, scalable additive manufacturing process that simplifies and accelerates the production of plastic parts. This ultra-fast, automated Stereolithography (SLA) system enables manufacturers to go straight from CAD to manufacturing, without tooling, for the rapid production of complex plastic parts. By eliminating the time and money required for traditional tooling, Digital Molding saves upfront costs and enables immediate part revisions without operational downtime.

More information on Digital Molding will be available during the tct introducing @ formnext presentation by 3D Systems’ Senior Researcher Scott Turner, entitled “The Evolution of Stereolithography for the Automated Manufacturing Environment,” held Tuesday, November 15, at 11:10 AM CET in Hall 3.1, Stand K70, of Messe Frankfurt.

In addition to 3D Systems’ Digital Molding demonstration, the company will introduce several new materials engineered for advanced applications across 3D Systems’ MultiJet Printing (MJP), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) and SLA technologies.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f50cd5dd-40f0-4c11-9b7e-13cdf3f494ca

New to the company’s MJP materials lineup is VisiJet® M3 CAST for the ProJet MJP 3600W and 3600W Max. VisiJet M3 CAST is a durable, next generation 100% wax material for the high throughput production of consistent, superior quality patterns for metal casting excellence and efficiency. Ideal for end-use metal part manufacturing, VisiJet M3 CAST joins QuickCast™, 3D Systems’ SLA solution for precision metal casting, as part of the company’s digital casting materials portfolio. Digital casting offers advantages over traditional casting in design complexity as well as the cost and time savings that can be realized from bypassing tooling.

New materials in Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) include:

  • DuraForm® ProX GF Plastic, a glass-filled composite Nylon material for the ProX® SLS 500. DuraForm ProX GF offers best-in-class rigidity and stiffness with amazing tensile, flexural and impact strength and advanced thermal resistance.
  • DuraForm ProX HST Composite, a proprietary mineral-filled composite material for the ProX SLS 500. With the highest available temperature resistance among 3D Systems’ SLS materials and a high strength to weight ratio, DuraForm ProX HST is excellent for applications requiring lightweight, rigid, load bearing parts.  
  • DuraForm TPU Elastomer, an abrasion and tear-resistant material for the sPro™ 60 HD-HS. With an excellent recovery memory to maintain original shape, DuraForm TPU enables functional prototypes for wear-and-tear testing and is well suited for applications ranging from footwear and sports equipment to gaskets, weather sealing, and flexible hosing and conduits.

To facilitate visualization applications requiring high temperature resistance, 3D Systems is also introducing Accura® Phoenix for its SLA printers. Offering superior clarity, Accura® Phoenix is also less rigid than existing high temperature materials, enabling improved performance in assembly operations where some flexibility may be required.

3D Systems will also feature demonstrations of advanced manufacturing software solutions engineered to streamline and simplify the design to manufacturing workflow. Visitors to formnext will be able to experience the 3D design, optimization and management tools of 3D Sprint™, the company’s revolutionary software for plastic part production, as well as 3DXpert™, the company’s all-in-one solution for metal additive manufacturing.

“As 3D printing continues to evolve from prototyping to production, our end-to-end solutions are transforming the way our customers design and manufacture,” said Herbert Koeck, SVP & General Manager, EMEA, 3D Systems. “With innovations such as Digital Molding and advanced new materials, we are helping to make 3D production real.”

3D Systems will feature demonstrations of its end-to-end products and services at formnext 2016 in Frankfurt, Germany, November 15-18, in Hall 3.1, Stand G10 of Messe Frankfurt.

About 3D Systems

3D Systems provides comprehensive 3D products and services, including 3D printers, print materials, on-demand manufacturing services and digital design tools. Its ecosystem supports advanced applications from the product design shop to the factory floor to the operating room. 3D Systems’ precision healthcare capabilities include simulation, Virtual Surgical Planning, and printing of medical and dental devices as well as patient-specific surgical instruments. As the originator of 3D printing and a shaper of future 3D solutions, 3D Systems has spent its 30 year history enabling professionals and companies to optimize their designs, transform their workflows, bring innovative products to market and drive new business models.

More information on the company is available at www.3dsystems.com


            
Figure 4 VisiJet M3 CAST

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