atum3D & Mitsubishi Introducing UV Resin for DLP Station 3D Printers at formnext

At formnext 2017, not long after announcing new partnerships and resellers the same year, Netherlands-based digital light processing (DLP) specialist and 3D manufacturing leader atum3D introduced its DLP Station 5 3D printer – the upgrade to its DLP Station 4 system. At the 2018 formnext event, the company introduced an open resin platform for the 3D printer.

Now, ahead of next month’s formnext 2019, atum3D, along with Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, has announced that the two companies will present a newly developed UV resin for the DLP Station printer at the event.

“atum3D is proud to collaborate with Mitsubishi Chemical, an experienced and renowned company for UV resins,” stated Joep Koopmans, the Manager of Business Development and Partnerships at atum3D, in a joint press release. “As an instrumental part of the integral application solution that also includes hardware and software, we believe this technologically advanced material offers new opportunities for short lead times, fast design and development iterations as well as local, just-in-time production of automotive interior parts.”

Tokyo-based Mitsubishi Chemical, which employs more than 40,000 people at 351 affiliates in over 30 different countries around the world, offers a wide range of chemistry-based solutions that help solve environmental and social issues. The company is an expert in formulating and creating UV resins, which enable parts to be 3D printed without ridges, and in one piece instead of multiple ones.

“I’m glad to have such a professional partner like atum3D on board to develop the materials our customers demand,” said Dick Hoogerdijk, the Director of Marketing and New Business Development at Mitsubishi Chemical Europe. “This new development shows the commitment of Mitsubishi Chemical to become one of the leading suppliers in the 3D printing sector.”

By matching up Mitsubishi Chemical’s UV resin proficiency with atum3D’s know-how in combining its own 3D printing hardware and software with chemical expertise to create customer application solutions, the 3D industry is seeing a pretty great match. This also marks more expansion by Mitsubishi into SLA and DLP from its previous activities in FDM. This new UV resin is the first result of the partnership between the two companies, which began last year.

Diabeam, this new UV resin for DLP 3D printing, has specific properties for both heat and impact resistance, which are normally not easy to attain in photocurable resin materials. The resin can solidify under a 365 nm light source, and also has a high scratch resistance – great for 3D printing covers and frames for automotive interiors and long-lasting interior trim parts.

The DLP Station 5 3D printer is available in both a 365 nm wavelength option and a 405 nm one as well, and its open resin platform allows users to select different resolutions and wavelengths. It has a resolution up to 6 µm after Tolerance Tuning, and features increased accuracy, consistency, and speed when compared to the DLP Station 4.

To see the new Diabeam UV resin for yourself, and learn more about its possible applications, you can visit both companies at formnext 2019 – atum3D will be at booth B19 in Hall 11.1, while Mitsubishi Chemical Europe GmbH will be located at booth B139 in Hall 12.1.

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