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3D Systems Makes Forbes List of America’s Best 100 Small Companies

Originally Published on 3D Systems’ Website here.

  • 3DS earns 43rd spot in Forbes’ 2014 list of top 100 U.S. small companies
  • Forbes also named 3DS 13th Most Innovative Growth Company in 2014
Release Date:
Wednesday, December 3, 2014 – 09:00

ROCK HILL, South Carolina, December 03, 2014 – 3D Systems(NYSE:DDD) today announced that it was named one of America’s Best Small Companies in Forbes’ 2014 list of the top 100 public companies in the U.S. with less than $1 billion dollars in sales. 3DS claimed the 43rdspot in the distinguished annual report, which ranks firms based on earnings growth, sales growth, return on equity and stock performance vis-à-vis an industry peer group, over both 1- and 5-year periods.

This is 3DS’ second major distinction from Forbes in 2014. In July, the company ranked 13th in Forbes’ list of the Most Innovative Growth Companies with a market capitalization under $10 billion. This annual index singles out the top 100 companies that have demonstrated continued growth through innovation, and is calculated using a proprietary formula from Credit Suisse HOLT, which determines an “innovation premium” based on investors’ beliefs that a company “will continue to come up with profitable new growth.”

“It is a tremendous tribute to everyone at 3DS to be named as one of America’s Best Small Companies in 2014 by Forbes, after being recognized by the publication for our innovative growth potential earlier this year,” said Avi Reichental, President and CEO, 3DS. “These accolades reflect the unified commitment of our global team, the strong fundamentals of our business, and our ability to deliver long-term value to our customers by offering the most comprehensive portfolio of 3D products and services available today.”

Learn more about 3DS’ commitment to manufacturing the future at www.3dsystems.com.

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3D Systems Continues Fab-Grade SLA Innovation with New ProX 800

  • ProX™ 800 builds on accuracy, reliability and precision of 3DS’ industry-leading Stereolithography (SLA®) technology
  • Exceptional build volume and speed for automotive, aerospace, medical device manufacturing and 3D printing service bureaus
  • Print flexibility and versatility with the widest range of SLA materials
  • New features include revolutionary laser print head and material management systems, space-saving footprint and easy-to-use operator controls
3D Systems (NYSE: DDD) today announced the immediate availability of the ProXTM 800, the latest in the company’s industry-leading family of accurate, production-level Stereolithography (SLA®) 3D printers. The ProX 800 production SLA printer features a revolutionary new laser print head and print material management system to lower the total cost of ownership.  A new industrial design reduces the printer’s footprint by up to 50%, doubling production output per unit of floor space, without sacrificing print volume or maximum part size capabilities.  An upgraded easy-load resin module and integrated touchscreen controls make it easy to use.

This new production SLA printer offers high-quality, high-resolution 3D printed parts and a large print volume, allowing 3D printing service bureaus as well as automotive, aerospace, defense, consumer products, and dental and medical device manufacturers to boost production capabilities. Users can quickly create large parts or a vast number of small parts with the exceptional detail, surface finish and overall accuracy they’ve come to expect from 3DS’ SLA.

“The ProX 800 is designed for serious volume production with the highest precision, highest accuracy and broadest array of functional plastic materials in 3D printing. Its large build volume is equally capable across both big and small parts while delivering the lowest part cost and lowest total cost of ownership available in a production grade printer,” said Buddy Byrum, Vice President of Product and Channel Management, 3DS. “We continue to innovate SLA technology, and have made it more economical and efficient than ever before.”

This new production 3D printer improves the already legendary reliability of SLA with new features including:

50% smaller footprint, doubling production output per unit of floor space

A 50% smaller footprint, compared to previous models in its class, drives operational efficiencies. By simplifying the printer architecture and optimizing ergonomic efficiency for machine operation and service, the new ProX 800 can print up to two times the output per unit of floor space, resulting in production growth without additional facilities costs.

Innovative direct power print head control reducing total cost of ownership

Advanced print head control boosts useable print head output, extending print head life by up to 15% and reducing total cost of ownership.

Dust-proof print heads reduce maintenance, maximizing uptime

Fully enclosed print heads are impervious to dust build-up, requiring no cleaning and increasing mean time between service (MTBS) and resulting uptime.

New touchscreen and easy-load materials for maximum operator efficiency 

The ProX 800’s new touchscreen provides fingertip control while the new, easy-load material delivery module provides ergonomic, fast, intuitive operation to maximize operator efficiency.

For parts small and large, the ProX 800 prints with no loss of resolution or accuracy. Whether it’s being used for dental guides, end-use plastic housings or huge casting patterns, users benefit from part accuracy that rivals traditional machining.

The ProX 800 combines the benefits of material versatility and a highly efficient, eco-friendly 3D printer, allowing manufacturers to do more while saving money. In addition to high-quality plastic, the ProX 800 features biocompatible materials approved for surgical applications, CastPro casting pattern material for creating direct casting patterns without tooling, clear plastics for prototype applications, and high heat materials for heat deflection up to 260 degrees Celsius. The ProX 800 prints each of these materials efficiently with very little material waste, all in a machine with the lowest cost of operation for high-capacity 3D printing.

“It’s not enough to only create high-quality prints anymore. Our customers need a dependable 3D printer, something that they can count on regardless of part size and material requirements,” said Byrum. “That’s what the ProX 800 delivers. It’s the versatile workhorse for a huge range of industrial applications.”

3DS invented SLA printing and was the first to commercialize it in 1989. Today its SLA printers continue to be the industry’s gold standard for producing functional prototypes, master patterns, molds, concept models and end-use components in a variety of industries.

The ProX 800 SLA production printer is immediately available and will be on display at EuroMold 2014 in Frankfurt, Germany from November 25-28, 2014, at the Messe Frankfurt in booths D69 and F90 in hall 11, along with 3DS’ latest 3D printers, advanced material options, cloud-sourced custom parts and digital thread of 3D capture, creation, print and inspection tools. Watch a video showcasing the capabilities of this new production SLA printer here.

For more details on 3DS’ announcements at EuroMold 2014, please visit 3dsystems.com/resources/press-room/euromold-2014.

Watch Now! 3D Systems talks about new products at Euromold 2014!

Watch Now! 3D Systems announces and discusses new products at Euromold 2014!

http://new.livestream.com/3DSystems/euromold2014/videos/69461708

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3D Systems Boosts Groundbreaking Production SLS Capabilities with ProX 500 Plus

  • Builds on ProX™ 500’s superior part quality, precision and durability
  • ProX 500 Plus has expanded range of new materials and offers new faster print speeds and higher resolution
  • New materials include glass-filled DuraForm® ProX GF, aluminum-filled DuraForm ProX AF+ and DuraForm ProX EF nylon

3D Systems(NYSE:DDD) today announced it will preview its fastest fab-grade Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) system yet, the ProX 500 Plus, at EuroMold 2014 in Frankfurt, Germany. Building upon last year’s successful ProX 500 release, the ProX 500 Plus continues the company’s efforts to redefine production 3D printing, adding upgraded speeds, higher print resolution and an expanded range of engineered composite materials to the line’s already stellar part quality, precision and durability. Like the ProX 500, the ProX 500 Plus delivers injection molding-grade parts without expensive fixed tooling for highly complex and mass customized production. Parts from ProX-series SLS printers exhibit long-lasting, fab-grade durability and functionality as well as smooth surface finish.

With the elevated production capabilities and repeatable results of the ProX 500 and ProX 500 Plus, service bureaus and large manufacturing operations—in industries like aerospace, automotive, electronics, customized medical devices, consumer products and rapid tooling—can rethink entire production and supply chain strategies for advanced product performance and lower total manufacturing costs. In addition to high material recyclability, the ProX 500 Plus allows for greater flexibility, so companies can explore localized manufacturing for step-change ability to exploit evolving marketplace opportunities and gain first-mover advantage.

A key element of the ProX 500 Plus’s industry-leading engineering capabilities is the addition of three exclusive high-performance materials to the DuraForm® ProX line for use in the ProX 500 Plus:

  • DuraForm ProX GF is a glass-filled polyamide (Nylon) material formulated for maximum stiffness and elevated temperature resistance. For parts that will undergo thermal stress or those that require high rigidity—like aircraft and automotive parts, complex housings and enclosures—DuraForm ProX GF will be the go-to material.
  • DuraForm ProX AF+ material is an aluminum-filled polyamide (Nylon) with a gray appearance, high strength-to-weight ratio, elevated thermal resistance and improved machinability. This material is perfect for manifolds and similar under-hood automotive models in addition to jigs and fixtures—any end-use or working prototypes with a cast aluminum aesthetic for engine and other equipment components requiring high force loading.
  • DuraForm ProX EX is a high impact strength nylon material with increased durability and remarkable flexibility. DuraForm ProX EX will be ideal for applications with high-force snap-fit designs, thin-walled parts and other fine-featured models needing nearly indestructible toughness and durability.

“Simply put, the ProX 500 Plus delivers the highest quality end parts with a combination of speed, precision, economy and robust material choices to a level that no one has seen before,” said Buddy Byrum, Vice President, Product and Channel Management, 3DS. “This 3D printer provides the most long-lasting parts for the most challenging operating environments.”

The ProX 500 Plus’ new high-resolution mode prints part features down to as small as .45mm and boasts higher part density, tensile strength and modulus stiffness. In terms of print speed, the ProX 500 Plus offers 30% faster printing in high-speed mode.

For over 20 years, 3DS has set the standard for SLS 3D printing, proving its parts in prototyping, rapid tooling, end-use and functional testing applications in demanding applications around the world. Today its SLS printers set the industry’s benchmark for production-grade manufacturing in aerospace, automotive, electronics, medical devices, fashion, consumer products and more.

3DS is exhibiting the ProX 500 Plus and revealing its new materials portfolio at EuroMold 2014 in Frankfurt, Germany from November 25-28, 2014, at the Messe Frankfurt in booths D69 and F90 in hall 11, along with its latest 3D printers, advanced material options, cloud-sourced custom parts and digital thread of 3D capture, creation, print and inspection tools. Expected availability for the ProX 500 Plus is early 2015, and an upgrade kit will be available for existing ProX 500 customers at time of launch. Watch a video of this new production SLS printer here.

For more details on 3DS’ announcements at EuroMold 2014, please visit 3dsystems.com/resources/press-room/euromold-2014.  Also join 3D Systems’ President and CEO, Avi Reichental, for a broadcast of 3DS’ extensive showing at EuroMold starting on Tuesday, November 25, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. EST by visiting 3dsystems.com/resources/press-room/euromold-2014 and clicking on the broadcast link.

Learn more about 3DS’ commitment to manufacturing the future at www.3dsystems.com.

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Listen to Objex Unlimited President, Steve Cory, talk 3D Printing on “The Voice Of Entrepreneurs” Radio Show!

President and Founder of Objex Unlimited, Steve Cory, was recently featured on “The Voice of Entrepreneurship” Radio Show. Listen below to hear about, 3D Printing, Entrepreneurship, and the humble beginnings of Objex Unlimited.

Some other topics:

  • Where the world of 3D Printing is right now.
  • Some myths and misconceptions of 3D Printing.
  • 3D Scanning, 3D Design, and Rapid Prototyping services.
  • Entrepreneurship, staying focused and building a business.
  • The growth of Objex Unlimited as a 3D Printing Studio.
  • Prototypes, 3D art, Sculpted Portraits (Sculptraits), and even 3D printed pets!

Listen now!

About The Voice of Entrepreneurs:

“The Voice of Entrepreneurs is an entertaining weekly business, entrepreneurial, and educational program that takes you on an energizing and effective ride into the real and authentic challenges faced by all of us in business today. We interview business owners and experts, and tackle meaningful issues that will impact your bottom line.

Hosted by Mark Garrett, with his trademark enthusiasm and empathy for his clients, and Cathy Pettigrew, who brings a wealth of practical entrepreneurial experience “from the trenches” – and who is now intent on keeping Mark on his toes – you are in for an entertaining hour of information and learning!

The Voice of Entrepreneurs covers all elements of business, from sales and marketing to accounting, HR to legal issues, social media to risk mitigation. We explore the areas that are so important to every business – big and small – and stitch together unique ideas, and tried & tested best practices, into practical applications that will bring you success in your business.

Join Mark and Cathy each week, as they bring together a successful business owner and an industry expert to discuss specific business topics and deliver actionable results that you can implement immediately, to see results quickly.

Sit down, turn off your phone, grab your note pad and get ready; this is The Voice of Entrepreneurs, with Mark Garrett and Cathy Pettigrew.”

http://connectmeradio.com/show/voice-entrepreneurs/

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3D Systems Announces Next Generation Design-to-Manufacturing Solutions to Showcase @ EuroMold 2014

  • ProXTM 400 Direct Metal Printing (DMP) features larger metal printing and automated finishing for factory production
  • ProXTM 500 Plus with expanded materials and higher productivity, powered by 3DS’ Selective-Laser-Sintering (SLS®)
  • ProXTM 800 delivers fab-grade productivity using 3DS’s Stereolithography (SLA®) technology
  • ProJet® 1200 with expanded set of materials for casting, modeling and prototyping
  • Additions to its design-to-manufacturing digital thread with cloud and desktop functionality and utility

ROCK HILL, South Carolina, November 17, 2014 – 3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) today announced the advancement of 3DPRINTING 2.0 with several next generation printers, advanced material options and additions to its design-to-manufacturing digital thread that will accelerate the ability to manufacture the future NOW.  The company will reveal these new solutions throughout the week and showcase its full power of 3DPRINTING 2.0 at EuroMold 2014 in Frankfurt, Germany from November 25-28, 2014 at the Messe Frankfurt in booths D69 and F90 in hall 11.

“We are thrilled to unveil a new suite of products that will support the most demanding manufacturing applications, especially in activities such as aerospace, automotive, personalized healthcare and the production of high performance, end-use parts,” said Avi Reichental, President and Chief Executive Officer, 3DS. “Our 3D PRINTING 2.0 solutions unlock significantly faster product development cycles, seamless content-to-print digital workflows and truly unprecedented part performance, as we continue to lead the field of advanced manufacturing, from the engineer’s desktop to the factory floor.”

3DS plans to showcase its latest capabilities, including new products that build on its leading technology in Direct Metal Printing (DMP), Stereolithography (SLA®) and Selective Laser Sintering (SLS®), together with new advanced materials that open entirely new applications. The company also plans to debut a new suite of 3D software and scanning solutions that substantially enhance its design-to-manufacturing digital thread, providing users with expanded capabilities and simple-to-use tools.

These next generation products and design-to-manufacturing solutions include:

Largest metal parts printing with factory production features – 3DS will preview the latest addition to its ProXTM Direct Metal Printing (DMP) line, the ProX 400, with the largest build size of any metal 3D printer and factory production features including automated finishing and a modular design. This printer will feature 3DS’ class-leading accuracy and surface quality, with high-quality, fully dense metal parts for demanding high-capacity industrial applications.

Next generation fab-grade Stereolithograhy (SLA®) – The ProX 800 builds on the accuracy, reliability and precision of 3DS’ industry-leading Stereolithography(SLA®) technology, with new features for greater production efficiency, including revolutionary print head and material management systems, space-saving footprint and easy-to-use operator controls. Its exceptional build volume and speed are ideal for automotive, aerospace, medical device manufacturing and 3D printing service bureaus.

Groundbreaking Selective Laser Sintering (SLS®) with an expanded material set – 3DS will preview the ProX 500 Plus, which builds on the ProX 500’s superior part quality, precision and durability with an expanded range of new materials, faster print speeds and a higher resolution setting. New glass-filled, aluminum-filled and nylon materials enhance the production application sets of this production workhorse.

New materials and applications in Micro-SLA printing – 3DS is announcing five new materials for its ProJet® 1200 Micro-SLA 3D printer that will expand applications for dental labs, jewelers, manufacturers, engineers and 3D artists. New FTX Cast and FTX Gold and FTX Silver give jewelers a complete digital prototyping and production workflow, and new FTX Gray and FTX Clear add to the complete portfolio of material options for small end-use parts and presentation models for engineers and figurines and design creation for 3D artists.

Advanced composites and flexible materials for MultiJet printing – New materials for the ProJet 5500X offer new levels of versatility for models, functional prototypes and end-use parts, with tough, functional-grade, flexible elastomers in black and translucent. Combining the new materials with the VisiJet® white and clear ABS-like plastic print materials, the ProJet 5500X can create up to 14 unique materials in a single print.

Scan-based design and inspection system for small, precise parts – The Capture® Mini is based on the previously released Capture system and designed specifically for small, precise parts scanning and inspection. Perfect for small mechanical parts, jewelry and dental models, the Capture Mini and Geomagic® software provide a complete digital thread for capture, creation, print and inspection workflows.

Empowering the design-to-manufacturing digital thread –3DS will showcase a cloud and desktop-based app that manages the design-to-manufacturing digital thread in a seamless user experience, whether at the print device level, or extending to the cloud for printing, collaboration and file sharing anywhere at any time, with easy access to 3DS’ on-demand parts service, Quickparts®.

3DMe® scanning and printing experience comes to the retail and event space – 3DS will showcase its 3DMe® Photobooth, a compact 3D scanning kiosk with an integrated 3DMe figurine app along with ecommerce and fulfillment.  With an easy, self-guided interface, instant face capture and small footprint, it’s perfect for retailers and event venues to bring the 3DMe experience to their space.

Join 3DS’ President and CEO, Avi Reichental, for a broadcast of 3DS’ extensive showing at EuroMold by visiting http://www.3dsystems.com/resources/press-room/euromold-2014 and clicking on the broadcast link starting at 10:00 a.m. EST on Tuesday, November 25, 2014.

Find out more about EuroMold 2014 at www.euromold.com and learn about 3DS’ commitment to manufacturing the future at www.3dsystems.com.

About 3D Systems 

3D Systems is pioneering 3D printing for everyone. 3DS provides the most advanced and comprehensive 3D design-to-manufacturing solutions including 3D printers, print materials and cloud sourced custom parts. Its powerful digital thread empowers professionals and consumers everywhere to bring their ideas to life in material choices including plastics, metals, ceramics and edibles. 3DS’ leading healthcare solutions include end-to-end simulation, training and integrated 3D planning and printing for personalized surgery and patient specific medical and dental devices. Its democratized 3D design and inspection products embody the latest perceptual, capture and touch technology. Its products and services replace and complement traditional methods with improved results and reduced time to outcomes. These solutions are used to rapidly design, create, communicate, plan, guide, prototype or produce functional parts, devices and assemblies, empowering customers to manufacture the future.

Leadership Through Innovation and Technology

•3DS invented 3D printing with its Stereolithography (SLA) printer and was the first to commercialize it in 1989.

•3DS invented Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) printing and was the first to commercialize it in 1992.

•3DS invented the ColorJet Printing (CJP) class of 3D printers and was the first to commercialize 3D powder-based systems in 1994.

•3DS invented MultiJet Printing (MJP) printers and was the first to commercialize it in 1996.

•3DS Medical Modeling pioneered virtual surgical planning (VSP) and its services are world-leading, helping many thousands of patients on an annual basis.

Today its comprehensive range of 3D printers is the industry’s benchmark for production-grade manufacturing in aerospace, automotive, patient specific medical device and a variety of consumer, electronic and fashion accessories.

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

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3D Systems Delivers Entirely New Design Freedoms with Launch of Geomagic® Sculpt and Touch

 -New 3D modeling software includes haptic 3D stylus to provide ‘Design You Can Touch’

-Complements existing CAD systems for more powerful workflows

-Makes 3D printing of any design file simple and seamless

ROCK HILL, South Carolina, October 29, 2014 – 3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) announced today the immediate availability of its new Geomagic®SculptTM 3D modeling software with TouchTM haptic 3D stylus. Geomagic® Sculpt erases the boundaries of solid modeling, empowering the freedom of designing complex, curvy and organic shapes.

With precise positioning input and instant force feedback that mimics the sense of physical sculpting, the Touch 3D stylus adds the ability to literally feel what is being created. Touch uses the power of haptics to allow users to feel every shape, every texture and every curve in design creations. Together, they are the most intuitive way to design functional and beautiful products, and enhance existing product design workflows.


Watch Scotty Ziegler, master designer, artist, and inventor, use Geomagic Sculpt and Touch to bring his ideas to reality.

Geomagic® Sculpt with Touch 3D Stylus Features:

2014 Sculpt banner 640x440

Virtual Clay Modeling – Harness the power of virtual clay to easily create exquisitely complex and organic forms. Enjoy the ability to tug, ridge, emboss and form just like real clay. Unlock intuitive design potential when you can feel the model using the Touch.

Seamlessly Beautify Your CAD Models – Geomagic Sculpt works alongside your current CAD software, so you can design like never before while working within established workflows. Geomagic Sculpt completes your design suite by adding unconstrained geometry to your existing 3D modeling tools.

Multi-representational Design Freedom – Geomagic Sculpt is the only software that combines the benefits of voxel modeling and Sub Divisional (SubD) surface modeling with dimension-driven sketch tools. You can create exactly the geometry you envision, using constraints where you need to and omitting them where you don’t.

Incredible Detailing Tools – Fine tune even the smallest elements and make your products stand out. Geomagic Sculpt lets you bake textures of any complexity into virtual clay and perfect them for the ideal look and feel. Design flourishes, which are often impossible in CAD, are simple to do in Sculpt – just import any image and go.

3D Print Ready – Always be ready for 3D printing with Geomagic Sculpt’s voxel-based modeling engine. Coupled with its automatic 3D printability analysis, Geomagic Sculpt lets you optimize designs on the fly for printing and will even check for common printability issues like feature size and proximity, flagging them so you can make changes before you print.

Touch-Your-Design

Geomagic Sculpt with the included Touch 3D stylus is priced at $3,900 USD and is available immediately through 3DS’ resellers of Geomagic software. A free trial of the software is also available at www.geomagic.com/en/products/sculpt/overview/.                                                                           

Learn more about 3DS’ commitment to manufacturing the future today at www.3dsystems.com.

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Idea to End-Product in 7 Days Flat: WHYcase for iPhone 6 | Let’s Start A Manufacturing Revolution

We have entered the next manufacturing revolution, and here is the proof. Using 3D printing to build a rapid prototype, the guys at WHYcase were able to go from concept to final product in less than 7 days. Watch the video below to see how they did it!

WHYcase for iPhone 6 | Let’s Start A Manufacturing Revolution

The product they made was a case for the iPhone 6. Since the phone was announced in September to be released later in the month, the guys at WHYcase challenged themselves to make a product to serve the demand for all those brand new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Pluses.

WHYcase used 3D scanning to obtain a very precise iPhone 6 CAD design. The case was then built around the design and printed on a Direct Metal printer. The 3D printed metal is then polished to a nice smooth finish, as the original print is rough and not smooth enough to be used as a commercial mould.

Could this be used for your next project? Do you have an idea that can utilize this rapid prototyping technology? Can your company utilize 3D Scanning or Direct Metal Laser Sintering in your manufacturing process? Let’s arrange a short time to discuss how these technologies can work in your favour!

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CubePro Available to Order! Here’s our review.

Objex Unlimited is happy to announce the arrival of the 3D Systems CubePro line of printers, including the CubePro, CubePro Duo, and CubePro Trio. We tend to deal a lot more in the Professional and Production realm of 3D Printing technologies here at Objex Unlimited, however, we were quite intent on receiving our first order of CubePros early September to test out.

Prosumer Plastic Jet/Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) Printing

The CubePro line of 3D Printers falls into the Prosumer price bracket of Plastic Jet 3D printers, with the upcoming Cube 3 to represent the Consumer price level. While printers at this price point can be very hit or miss with the parts they create (more often a miss than a hit), CubePro has quite a few features that put it ahead of the competition. Additionally, even if you own a production level FDM printer, it’s always beneficial to have a machine with lower material and operating cost to experiment with in the office space. On this front, the CubePro delivers as an affordable and functional office printer for handling basic to intermediate plastic 3D Prints.

 

A front shot of the CubePro Trio.

A front shot of the CubePro Trio.

Key Features

The new CubePro models have a couple of key features that put them ahead of the competition:
  • Fully-enclosed, heated build chamber.
  • High-detail prints, with a layer resolution up to 70 microns.
  • Build platform size of 10 3/4 x 10 3/4 x 9 1/2 inches (275 x 265 x 240 mm).
  • Prints PLA, ABS and nylon (coming soon) materials, with the ability to have different materials in the same print.
  • 25 different colours available for each material.
  • Available with single, dual or triple print jets.
  • Stabilized print mechanics, easy setup, wireless connectivity, and fast print speed.
After some issues with warping and edge curling with the CubePro’s predecessor, the CubeX, we were partially excited, partially nervous about what to expect with the latest from Cubify. And while there is always some finesse required with getting excellent FDM 3D Prints, we can finally say with confidence that 3D Systems has managed to improve upon many, if not all, of these issues.

 

Enclosed, Heated Build Chamber

The older CubeX had an open concept, allowing both cool air (and human limbs, for that matter) to enter the build chamber during print operations. Not only is this a potential hazard, but a closed heated chamber drastically helps with the dreaded ABS peeling and warping issues. When a gust of cool air hits the first layers of your print and begin to cool it down, the difference in temperature of the hot plastic being extruded on top is apt for causing warping, mainly seen on the edges of the print curling off the print bed. Luckily, the CubePro boasts an enclosed, heated build chamber, addressing the major issues of the CubeX. We’ve also been quite impressed with the 70 micron setting, and the extra fine detail setting, both of which will heavily affect build times but will give a very impressive, smooth finish.

 

Software

Which brings us to software. The included CubePro software is easy-to-use and quite intuitive. While we have yet to get wi-fi printing working on our office network, loading files onto the USB key works well enough. Although the CubePro software won’t give you quite as much options to tweak your build as the open source printers, such as a Rep-Rap, it does include options for layer resolution, overall build strength, infill pattern, fill spacing, bottom and top layer heights, and outer wall thickness.

 

Summary

Pros:

  • Great FDM (plastic jet) printing at the price point.
  • Higher layer resolution than other FDM printers on the market.
  • Large build platform.
  • Relatively user-friendly compared to similar printers on the market.
  • Lots of material choices, with more to come!

Cons:

  • Will not print as well as production level FDM printers (nor should it be expected to at a fraction of the price).
  • As with all FDM, some experimenting necessary to get the hang of the machine.
  • 3rd-party material not supported (3D Systems claims this is to control inferior filament getting put through the extruder and potentially harming the CubePro).



Subscribe to the Objex Blog! 3D Printing tips for the CubePro, among other 3D Printers, to come shortly.

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How 3D Medical Printing is Changing How Doctors interact with their Patients

Medical 3D Prints are drastically changing how Doctors interact with their patients, as we begin to see just how useful a true 3D model is in getting across information to patients and other doctors. Jason Kirk, a Drexel University student, recently completed his Master’s Thesis on the topic, demonstrating the potential of 3D printed models in doctor’s office. Jason published his findings in a video, entitled 3D Printed Cardiac Imaging Data. You can watch the video below:

3D Printed Cardiac Imaging Data from Jason Kirk on Vimeo.

Objex Unlimited not only offers the service of printing 3D medical models from CT Scans or CAD files (see our 3D Printed CT scan of a human heart below), but we’ve also been working to improve the methods to deliver effective 3D Printed medical models. If you are interested in hearing more about our 3D printing services and to see some samples of our work please don’t hesitate to contact us.

CT Scan of Human Heart (Monochrome) - Objex Unlimited. Printed on a ProJet 4500.

CT Scan of Human Heart (Monochrome) – Objex Unlimited. Printed on a ProJet 4500.

For further reading, below is an excerpt from the article published about the thesis project on 3Dprint.com by Michael Moody called How Patient Specific 3D Printed Organ Replicas Help Patients Reach Informed Decisions.

“The basic question that he tackled was “is there value for surgeons and their patients in reviewing 3D printed anatomy replicas?” Kirk notes that in the past, surgeons used such things as X-rays, drawings, CT imaging and computer animation when communicating with their patients regarding anatomy issues. Today, however, most surgeons agreed that those methods limit the discussion to basic two dimensional representations, “which frequently confused complex spatial relationships.”

3D Model of Human Heart Use for Printing

3D Model of Human Heart Use for Printing

During the video Kirk provides insight into the process of preparing 3D anatomy replicas. Initially, the healthcare professional begins with patient specific CT scan data which serves as the basis for developing the 3D replica. He indicates that patient specific data is then used in conjunction with a software program called “MiMiC.” By using the software program, he is able to prepare the model and isolate the area of interest, in this case the heart muscle.

The software allows the computer to save the graphic details of the model. It is then ready to complete using a polyjet 3D printer. This type of printer works by depositing layer after layer of liquid resin. This portion of the model is allowed to cure for 24 hours. The model is then removed from the printer and inspected for any errors. Once complete, a digital model can be used, as is, or with further editing to create a 3D stylized physical object. It is printed in two sections so it can provide a visual representation of the heart that allows for internal and external views without compromising either.

Additionally, Kirk obtained input from a panel of cardiac experts, including cardiovascular surgeons, radiologists, and researchers from the Mayo Clinic, Hahnemann University Hospital as well as Drexel University College of Medicine. The goal of the interviews was to determine if a 3D printed cardiac anatomy replica could be used to facilitate doctor-patient communications by providing a supplemental decision making aid.

3D Printed Heart Model

3D Printed Heart Model

His research indicated “Cardiac anatomy replicas can be used to facilitate Doctor/Patient communication and supplement contemporary visualization techniques by providing accurate three dimensional data which offers additional haptic and spatial feedback specific to the patient’s anatomy and pathology.”

Or stated another way, Kirk determined that in order to overcome the limitations of two dimensional presentations, one needs to combine patient centered healthcare, patient specific imaging data, and additive manufacturing techniques such as 3D printing; to assist empowered doctors to better communicate with their patients. Ultimately, this should lead to better, and more informed decisions.

Kirk’s thesis would appear to offer additional support for the idea that patients who have the ability to observe 3D anatomy replicas of affected organs gain a better understanding of the issues involved. Replicas that are based on patient specific data afford the best opportunity for meaningful dialog.”