Stratasys is showcasing progress throughout a number of domains at RAPID + TCT 2024. Along with partnering with AM Craft to supply aviation elements, the corporate has additionally partnered with BASF on SAF and launched a brand new digital anatomy printer. Beforehand, the agency enabled OpenAM to be included within the F900, permitting using supplies from exterior distributors on the massive FDM machine. For instance, the VICTREX AM 200, a PEAK compound by a number one PEEK agency, is now supported. The Somos NeXt materials has additionally been made accessible for the workhorse NPS Vat Polymerization techniques, and the F770 now provides extra ABS colours.
General, Stratasys is pursuing 4 key methods concurrently. The agency is working to make its present gear extra open for manufacturing by permitting using exterior supplies and growing new machines such because the F3300. It’s partnering with supplies and different companies to create extra application-centric choices. It’s growing extra application-specific machines, such because the style and anatomy printers. Lastly, the corporate is increasing the capabilities of its present techniques and put in base to raised serve its shoppers. This balanced strategy might allow Stratasys to generate extra income from present shoppers, improve income from manufacturing, and achieve extra revenue from particular options. Nonetheless, it is a balancing act, and if not managed fastidiously, the corporate might threat cannibalizing its present revenues whereas failing to maneuver into higher-volume areas.
PP for SAF
One vital space for Stratasys is its selective absorption fusion (SAF) know-how. The Stratasys H350 might supply a less expensive approach to manufacture polymer elements at scale, doubtlessly being extra environment friendly, quicker, and cheaper than powder mattress fusion options. Nonetheless, introducing a brand new know-how to the 3D printing business is commonly time-consuming and calls for persistence. The corporate is now partnering with BASF Ahead AM to introduce polypropylene (PP) for SAF. Polypropylene, probably the most extensively used supplies globally, might discover many purposes in prototypes, industrial elements, client merchandise, and extra. Stratasys hopes the fabric will probably be particularly helpful for automotive elements like housings and ducting, orthotic units, and client sports activities gear reminiscent of shin guards, in addition to versatile pipes and complex sensor mounts.
The concept of utilizing PP for shin guards is interesting as a result of it represents a high-volume software that could possibly be profitable. The usage of PP for versatile pipes is an apparent alternative, however it’s an software that’s usually missed. Being lighter in weight than many TPUs and usually delicate however sturdy, PP might grow to be a extensively used materials in numerous industries.
“With superior nesting means and a complete turnaround time of lower than 36 hours, SAF PP permits prospects to supply tons of of elements in a single construct. This boosts productiveness and price effectivity, delivering high-quality elements at a decrease price,” stated Neil Hopkinson, Vice President of Additive Manufacturing Know-how atStratasys.
Reducing half prices is essential for Stratasys. If it could actually demonstrably obtain this, it’s going to drive adoption for SAF.
“The floor end of SAF PP elements is unparalleled. The nice element decision and uniform look are far superior to some other PBF printed PP we have now seen, considerably enhancing the visible attraction of our closing merchandise,” stated Philipp Götz, CEO of beta buyer Götz Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG.
That may be superb information certainly, as considerations have been raised about floor end and half optics relating to SAF. If these fears show to be unfounded, extra folks would probably take into account SAF as an alternative choice to different powder mattress applied sciences.
J5 Medical Machine
The Stratasys J5 is a brand new entry-level medical modeling machine designed particularly for Digital Anatomy. It resembles present Stratasys gear however is tailor-made for this specific software. At the moment, over 200 hospitals worldwide have 3D print labs. In surgical planning, coaching, and affected person consultations, medical fashions are invaluable. They permit the showcasing of uncommon pathologies and assist information sufferers by advanced choices relating to future procedures.
There isn’t a clear chief within the digital anatomy market, with many establishments utilizing Formlabs or Ultimaker printers for this function. Stratasys hopes to face out with its techniques by providing extra colours, completely different densities, and diverse textures. Moreover, the corporate has performed analysis to imitate the texture of actual tissue and vasculature, which might make a big distinction in educating purposes.
¨The J5 Digital Anatomy printer is designed to be user-friendly and facility-friendly, making superior anatomical modeling accessible to a broader vary of medical establishments,” stated Erez Ben Zvi, VP Medical for Stratasys.
Cheaper than the present Digital Anatomy techniques, the Stratasys J5 might considerably develop Stratasys’ attain in hospitals. This PolyJet system produces nicer-looking and feeling elements, however the materials and printer prices are a lot greater than options. For Stratasys to make inroads on this market, it wants to emphasise the superior haptics and colour high quality of its fashions. In particular areas like vascular surgical procedure, this could possibly be a decisive issue, whereas different surgeons would possibly favor to supply cheaper fashions extra often.
The printer comes with BoneMatrix materials that mimics porous bone, TissueMatrix for tissue, a help materials, and a radio-opaque materials. The system is 510K cleared and has ISO 10993-1:2018 and ISO 18562-1:2017 certifications, permitting customers to make fashions with restricted tissue and bone contact, everlasting pores and skin contact, and fuel pathway fashions. Moreover, the supplies and manufacturing processes are ISO 13485 licensed, which ought to present customers with reassurance relating to high quality and security.
The GrabCAD Print Digital Anatomy Software program is designed to simplify 3D printing and file dealing with. Help supplies are water jet soluble. The utmost half dimension is 140 x 200 x 190 mm, whereas the system itself measures 651 x 661 x 1511 mm and weighs 253 kg.
General, we will see a coherent plan by Stratasys to create application-specific materials and printer mixtures that combine nicely with software program. Concurrently, the agency is aiming to allow lower-cost per half and larger-scale manufacturing. The technique seems sound, however we must wait and see if polypropylene (PP) will probably be adopted at scale for manufacturing and if hospitals will flip to the J5 in massive numbers.
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