3D Printing: The Stories We Didn’t Cover This Week — May 14

May 14, 2016 by Michelle Matisons 3D Design 3D Printers 3D Printing 3D Printing Materials

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This week’s news includes a couple of stories about Stratasys, including a partnership with Fuji Xerox to promote 3D printing in Australia, but these aren’t the only companies with their sights on 3D printing Down Under. Konica Minolta has also hired someone to focus on the Australian 3D printing market, so we will be seeing much more from Australia in the 3D printing space. In other news, LAI International has purchased its second Arcam EBM system, and Sciaky, Inc. will be demonstrating its latest wares at the RAPID trade show in Orlando next week. Wrapping this all up with some filament news, German RepRap now offers a polycarbonate filament for both industrial and individual purposes.

Stratasys Launches J750 3D Printer in Singapore

Stratasys’ J750 3D printer, the world’s first full-color, multi-material 3D printer, has just been launched in Singapore after making waves in the US. The printer has already shown itself to have incredible multicolor printing capabilities; in fact, customers can choose from 360,000 different colors! It also allows customers to use an “unprecendented range of materials” ranging from rigid to flexible and opaque to transparent.

Ido Eylon, Vice President of Sales, Stratasys Asia Pacific & Japan, explains how this machine responds to new manufacturing demands in today’s economy:

“The Stratasys J750 is truly our vision of future 3D printing, as it redefines conventional prototyping and manufacturing processes. Combining full color with multiple materials and a streamlined workflow, the J750 will empower businesses with cutting edge innovation to achieve one-stop realism. In the product concept stage, time usually used for manual painting and assembly can now be cut dramatically with the J750, allowing for engineers and designers to make informed decisions quickly.”

The printer is available now and can ordered here.

Stratasys and Fuji Xerox to Partner for 3D Printing in Australia

In more Stratasys news, Stratasys joins with Fuji Xerox with the specific mission in mind of promoting 3D printing “Down Under” in Australia. Fuji Xerox’s time-tested experience offering enterprising IT solutions, and Stratasys’ obvious leadership in cutting-edge 3D printing technologies, makes this partnership an ideal one for spreading the word about 3D printing to a wide range of clients.

Jennifer Baile, National Business Manager, 3D Sales & Operations of Fuji Xerox Australia, describes the goal of this new partnership here:

“We are delighted to introduce Stratasys 3D printing solutions to our client base and network, enabling them to streamline their product development cycle, thus optimizing rapid prototyping and manufacturing efficiency.”

It looks like a new day for 3D printing in Australia, ushered in by a strong business partnership that knows technology well, and also knows what business and individual clients need.

Konica Minolta Gets Into 3D Printing Game in Australia

It looks like Fuji Xerox isn’t the only established company trying to promote 3D printing in Australia. Now, Konica Minolta Business Solutions Australia has hired Ben Darling, who will be the company’s 3D printing and wide format sales specialist for Australia’s southern region.

His appointment will expand 3D printing business across Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania. Previously, Darling worked for Objective 3D, Solidtec Solutions/Intercad and Inceptive Solutions — so he has much experience in the 3D printing market.

Darling summarizes Konica Minolta’s goals in the 3D printing industry:

“As the additive manufacturing industry continues to use 3D printing for production of end use parts, especially in the areas of medical and low volume high value manufacturing, 3D printers are increasingly becoming a mission critical part of organizations that have invested in the technology. This means that service response times have never been more important to the success of our customers. With a national footprint of service technicians Konica Minolta is able to maintain a minimum response to have a technician onsite.”

So, with Fuji Xerox and Stratasys in one corner, and Konica Minolta in another, it sure looks like we’ll be hearing much more about 3D printing Down Under!

LAI International Selects Arcam EBM Technology

LAI International supplies advanced titanium and other specialty products for “commercial aerospace, defense, oil & gas and medical device markets,” and now it follows an earlier purchase of a Arcam Q20 system with the purchase of another Arcam Q20plus system.

Patrick Gruetzmacher, President of LAI International, explains the company’s decision to get another Arcam machine:

“We at LAI International are pleased to have selected the Arcam Q20plus system to support our growing aerospace applications for 3D printing and additive manufacturing. The machines build size, speed and material performance makes it a good fit for LAI commercial products. Arcam has proven to be a critical strategic partner to LAI and we look forward to a long term relationship.”

Arcam’s main focus is on advanced manufacturing in the aerospace and medical industries, and the company is pleased that companies like LAI International are being so responsive to their EBM technology.

Sciaky, Inc. at RAPID 2016 in Orlando, Florida

The RAPID 2016 trade show in Orlando, Florida is next week, and 3DPrint.com is planning on being there, too. A four-day event occurring from May 16-19 at the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC), the trade show features the latest in 3D printing and additive manufacturing technologies. This will also be the place that Sciaky, Inc. demonstrates its patented IRISS℠ closed-loop control, which powers its Electron Beam Additive Manufacturing (EBAM™) systems.

IRISS is short for “Interlayer Real-time Imaging & Sensing System,” which allows for consistent process control for large-scale 3D printed parts. This innovative and proprietary technology provides real time monitoring of metal deposition processes, adjusting process parameters to compensate for variations that may happen during the build process. EBAM utilizes wire feedstock in a range of metals including titanium, tantalum, niobium, tungsten, molybdenum, Inconel, aluminum, stainless steels, nickel alloys, and more, and the system can produce parts ranging anywhere from 8 inches to 19 feet in length.

If you are planning on attending the RAPID event in Orlando next week, keep an eye out for Sciaky so you can learn more about where the company is headed.

German RepRap Now Offers Polycarbonate Filament

Finally, in filament news, there is now a high demand for temperature resistant materials, and German RepRap is responding to this need by offering a new polycarbonate filament. 3D printed objects made from polycarbonate offer temperature stability up to 112°C, allowing for completely new applications. The PC filament has an extremely high surface quality, eliminating the need for reworking so long as objects are used correctly. The material also provides better mechanical properties, and polycarbonate is used where other plastics are too soft, fragile, or scratch-sensitive.