3D Platform Showcasing Newest Industrial 3D Printer Systems at Upcoming RAPID + TCT Show

This year’s RAPID + TCT event, taking place in Pittsburgh at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, is coming up fast: it opens on May 8, and is known around the world for its large floor show, filled with the latest products and processes, and over 300 exhibits. The conference will feature several interesting and influential keynote speakers, bringing a wealth of 3D printing knowledge and know-how to the event, and we know that 3D printing applications from several industries will be featured, including metal 3D printing and 3D printing in the medical field. Attendees can explore the massive show floor with their own 3D printed replicas of Pittsburgh’s Roberto Clemente Bridge, which will act as pieces for the event’s annual Puzzle Challenge.

Pre-conference news is starting to trickle in, and everyone here at 3DPrint.com is excited to see what’s coming. Industrial 3D printer manufacturer 3D Platform, which last year introduced its flagship machine, the convenient and industrial 3D Workbench, and then promptly took it on a road trip, has announced that it will be bringing its new line of additive manufacturing systems to the RAPID + TCT show next month. The company recently introduced its large FFF Workbench Pro 3D Printer system, the new 100 Series WorkTable 3D Printer, and a High Flow Air Cooled (HFA) Extruder, the first in the company’s new line of high-speed, high-performance extruders.

Jonathan Schroeder, President of 3D Platform, said, “We’ve had a lot of success with our Workbench machine over the last 15 months. Our customers have asked us to take it to the next level, and we’ve successfully delivered on that request. Building on our super-reliable mechatronic system, we included a faster processor, touch-screen control, built-in Wi-Fi, 40% more print volume, and mesh bed leveling—features that our customers requested. This game-changing throughput increase will dramatically help our customers get more out of their additive workflows.”

The Workbench Pro has a large 1 x 1 x 0.7 m build volume, and delivers print rates that are up to 16 times faster than the original 3D Workbench. An HFA extruder comes standard with the Workbench Pro, with optional upgrades to HFE 300 and 900 high-flow extruders. Both options can accommodate filament sizes from 2.85 mm to 6 mm, and are independently controlled for extruded material amounts and speed. The machine delivers high quality and accurate prints with high resolution detail, thanks to its Touchscreen Brainbox, with optimized firmware and a 32-bit chip.

It has a folding gantry, optional enclosure, and just like its predecessor, features a full industrial workbench, with built-in storage and non-slip lockable casters. The Workbench Pro has WiFi, so users can remotely login with a smartphone to receive print information, and remotely stop and restart print jobs. The 3D printer has industrial-strength enhanced mechatronics, so your prints come with high quality, but at two times the amount of acceleration and deceleration. The framework uses Constant Force anti-backlash lead screws and nuts, and SIMO Series actuators to allow for the previously mentioned 40% more build volume. Other unique features include:

• Touch Probe: state-of-the-art Auto Mesh Bed Leveling up to 441 points
• Advanced Cooling System
• Borosilicate Glass Heated Bed
• SurePrint Servo Technology: closed-loop control offers positional feedback every 1.25 microns
• Enhanced Filament Feed System

3D Platform’s new 100 Series WorkTable has the same mechanical features and build area size (1 x 1 x 0.5 m) as the original Workbench, but its entry-level price point is less than $15,000.

“Our new series of machines is a direct response to what our customers have been asking for. Our WorkTable 100 Series is designed for smaller businesses, schools, and entry-level designers looking to implement large-format, industrial strength 3D printing into their projects, but at a lower entry cost,” said Schroeder.

The 3D printer, with a mechanical bed leveling system and marker frame, comes with a Volcano Extruder, which is available either as a single or dual head, and an optional HFA extruder, which is twice as fast as the original Workbench extruder. An LCD display, 8 KB of RAM, a step motor, and an 8-bit, 16 MHz ATmega 2560 processor all come standard with the WorkTable, and brand new enclosures have been added for the entire Workbench family, including the 100 series WorkTable, which help produce better quality prints with more easily maintainable temperature controls.

Both the WorkTable and the Workbench Pro use open-market materials and software, which keeps the purchase price and operating costs down.

3D Platform’s new line of HFA extruders, which are faster than anything else on the market right now, come standard with the 3DP 300 Series Workbench Pro, and are also available as optional upgrades with both the 100 Series WorkTable and the 200 Series Workbench Classic.

Schroeder said, “Our new line of quick-swap dual extruder heads deliver high quality 3D prints and are independently controlled for speed and extruded material amounts. They are the fastest filament extruders on the market, and can accommodate filament sizes from 1.75 mm to 3 mm and nozzle sizes from 0.2 mm to 2.5 mm.”

The HFA Extruder prevents filament slipping and stripping with a gear reduction transmission, and it can print layer resolutions down to 50 microns. It offers high reliability, with a maximum output, and commercially digital manufacturing environments will appreciate its continuous duty cycle. It is available in three different nozzle sizes:

• Minimum: 0.4 mm
• Standard: 0.6 mm
• Maximum: 2.5 mm

If you’re interested in seeing 3D Platform’s newest offerings for yourself, register for the RAPID + TCT event, as the company will be providing on-going, live demonstrations at booth #937. Don’t forget, 3DPrint.com will also be attending the event, to bring you all of the latest 3D printing news right from the show floor. Discuss in the 3D Platform forum at 3DPB.com.