Stratasys announces triple-jetting technology for faster additive manufacturing

November 10, 2014
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Stratasys, Minneapolis, announces that triple-jetting technology is now available cross-platform, providing up to 20% faster fused-deposition-modeling production. Material combinations include flexible, rigid, and color materials in a single part, from compact, office-compatible 3D printers, to industrial-scale systems. For the first time, customers can create 3D tools for food processing and carry out steam-sterilization of medical devices.

Aerospace and automotive customers can benefit from enhanced speed, toughness and chemical resistance, with the new advanced ULTEM 1010 FDM material capabilities. Designed specifically with manufacturers in mind, ULTEM 1010 combines superior heat resistance, tensile strength and chemical resistance, and can be sterilized using steam autoclaving for medical applications. It is also bio-compatible and has the only food-contact certification of any FDM thermoplastic. These properties make the ULTEM 1010 the right choice for aerospace, automotive, food production tooling, and medical device manufacturing and functional prototyping applications.

The Objet260 Connex 1, 2, and 3 series is a compact and office friendly platform, while the Objet350 Connex 1, 2,  and 3 series deliver the same capabilities with larger build sizes. To increase productivity, all six 3D printers provide triple-jetting workflow advantages like hot-swap and fewer material changeovers. Further enhancing ease of use and workflow, the Objet260 and Objet350 Connex3 3D Printers (and the existing Objet500 Connex3) will support VRML-exported CAD files in addition to the traditional STL, and deliver color, multi-material 3D printing.

www.stratasys.com

Precious metal additive manufacturing system for jewelry enables lower cost

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Cooksongold, England, and EOS GmbH, Sweden, have launched the Precious M 080 Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) system. The Precious M 080 system is equipped with a 100-watt fiber laser, which is said to provide exceptional beam quality and power stability, guaranteeing consistent processing conditions. It is claimed to offer an affordable, compact, and design-driven manufacturing solution for the production of watch and jewelry products such as the gold and titanium rings shown here.

The system also enables quick turnaround between jobs and materials via its cartridge based system, which includes an extraction cartridge for easy removal of powder. The Precious M 080 has an 80-mm-diameter round build platform, with a working stroke of 95 mm (high, including building platform).

The advanced metal powders produced by Cooksongold have been optimized to match the performance of the Precious M 080 system, ensuring that customers can start building parts immediately upon machine installation. Currently the system can build parts using a variety of gold alloys, and future development of additional materials to meet customer requirements is planned.

"This Additive Manufacturing (AM) process introduces an innovative and paradigm shifting technology to the luxury goods industry," stated Dr Adrian Keppler, Chief Marketing Officer at EOS. "With Cooksongold we found the perfect partner for the extension of our technology into this industry. Additive Manufacturing paves the way for a completely new approach towards design and manufacturing, enabling the design-driven manufacturing the industry has long been searching for."

"AM will change the economics of producing watch and jewelry products by offering a streamlined manufacturing process that dramatically reduces the time required from design concept to final part," stated David Fletcher, European Product Manager at Cooksongold.

www.cooksongold-emanufacturing.com

www.eos.info

Optomec announces record orders for 3D printers

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Optomec, Albuquerque, N.M., announces that its order bookings have more than doubled through the first three quarters of 2014. In the third quarter specifically, Optomec received a record number of system orders, securing more than ten new customers for its high-end 3D printers. This includes both LENS 3D printers for the repair and fabrication of metal components, and Aerosol Jet systems for 3D printed electronics.

The majority of the bookings were from industrial customers that will use Optomec printers for production applications. More than half of the sales came from U.S. customers, with the remainder divided evenly between Europe and Asia.

"Our success in the third quarter continues the strong momentum we have enjoyed throughout this year, in which all told we have generated system orders from more than 25 new customers, many of whom intend to expand their installations as they move into higher volume production." said Dave Ramahi, president and CEO of Optomec. "We are well on track to meet our goal of 100% growth in orders in 2014, and are likewise pleased to see Optomec users reinforcing the fact that 3D printing can bring tangible value and benefits in real production applications, well beyond research and prototyping."

In addition to strong overall sales performance in the third quarter, notable strategic developments include the addition of a new Aerosol Jet account focused on high volume production of 3D Printed Antenna for Smartphones, bringing penetration in this market up to five customers, and a new industrial customer that will use LENS in production for 3D Printed metal coatings.

Additionally, Optomec saw the successful production launch of its 3D Printed Sensor solution for Industrial Internet applications, and made its first deliveries of the new LENS Print Engine product, which is a modular solution enabling the integration of 3D Printing of Metals within a conventional CNC machine tool platform.

www.optomec.com

Canadian consortium to promote development of additive manufacturing

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Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters, Ottawa, Canada's largest trade and industry association, has announced the launch of Canada Makes, a national network created to promote additive manufacturing. The consortium of private, public, academic, and nonprofit entities will cover a broad range of AM technologies, and plans to organize a range of activities and initiatives supporting those looking to use the process.

Several AM workshops are planned at Sheridan College's Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Design Technologies (CAMDT) located in Brampton, Ontario, to promote the technology among engineers.

"CAMDT is one of the most advanced applied research labs in Canada and it has the latest technologies and software in the field of Fused Deposition Modeling. We are proud to help make this state-of-the-art laboratory available to small and medium-sized manufacturers across the country," says Jason Meyers, CEO of Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters.

www.canadamakes.ca   

ß-TCP added to hydroxyapatite implant coatings reduces risk of infection

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Aalto University, Finland, reports that its researchers and partner manufacturers have proven that by adding a certain amount of beta-tricalcium phosphate (ß-TCP) to hydroxyapatite coatings on biomedical implants, integration is improved and the likelihood of infection is reduced. This research is significant in the battle against the spread of drug resistant bacteria.

Implants are commonly made from metals such as titanium alloys. These materials are made porous during processing to prepare them for medical use. Although this is important to ensure good contact between the implant and the bone, it also allows dangerous bacteria to adhere and grow both on the surface and inside, leading to increased risk of infection.

Hydroxyapatite (HAP) or bioactive glass (BAG) is typically applied to orthopedic and other implants to alter the surface properties. Such coatings improve the body's ability to recognize a foreign object in a more friendly way and promote implant integration into surrounding tissues.

However, during the heat treatment process, excessive stresses can cause premature cracking and removal of the coating layer. This can lead to the development of unsuitable compounds and increase the risk of infection. By adding ß-TCP, such stresses are reduced and therefore the biomaterial coating is better preserved. This minimizes the risk of coating destruction and bacterial adhesion, and allows the implant surface to achieve its function in an optimal way.

An estimated 10-15% of post-implant complications are caused by bacterial infections. Post-operative diseases are becoming more challenging, and developing new treatments that are resistant to infection are crucial.

Researchers have started developing new experimental devices for advanced testing of biomaterials at the conditions most close to life. Besides proving developed technology, it will allow high-throughput screening of the biomaterials with substantially better properties.

"Our work has focused on developing an analysis of surface treatments for commercial implants which reduces risk of infection," said Professor Michael Gasik at Aalto University. "What we wanted to do is find a way to avoid the formation of any undesirable products during the processing of the implant."

http://www.aalto.fi/en/

Mass-flow-controlled UHP/HVOF system cuts costs by up to 25%

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Flame Spray Technologies, The Netherlands, has introduced a state-of-the-art mass flow controlled UHP/HVOF eGun coating system that reportedly enables cost reductions up to as much as 25% compared with conventional liquid-fuel HVOF systems. It produces coatings with higher density due to higher particle velocity, and lower oxide levels due to a fuel-rich reducing flame.

Coatings also provide an improved corrosion barrier as a result of both lower porosity and lower oxide levels. The eGun system separates fuel, gas, and electrical components into distinct modules. Flow, pressure, and temperature sensors are installed to monitor the process and provide warnings when the system is operating outside of its specified limits.

In addition to controlling FST's eGun, the system is also capable of operating the JP-5000 Model 5220 kerosene HVOF torch. This allows the customer to use either the new eGun or conventional JP-5000 technology. The JP-5000 feature is optional.
The standard eGun System is supplied with a PF-50 Powder Feeder. However, the system supports most commercially available powder feed units. This flexibility gives the customer the opportunity to select the preferred feeder without compromising the overall system quality or performance.

The eGun System uses an operator friendly full-color touch screen that allows for easy programming and process monitoring. It can store up to 256 recipes.

http://www.fst.nl/products/systems/hvof-spray/egun-uhp-hvof-system