Mutoh Unveils Breakthrough ‘Value 3D Resinoid MR-5000’ 3D Printer–Prints With Entirely New Materials

Back in July, we reported on a new metal arc welding 3D printer released by a Japanese company, Mutoh Industries Ltd. The printer was a very unique, yet quite affordable machine when compared to printers of similar technology. Now Mutoh apparently as done it again, with the unveiling of yet another new, relatively affordable, and very unique 3D printer.

This week, the Japanese company has unveiled their new ‘Value 3D Resinoid MR-5000’, a large-scale 3D printer that can print at speeds of up to 300mm per second. The price tag, while quite hefty at 10 million yen (approximately $83,500), is really a bargain when compared to other similar 3D printers on the market today. While full details of the machine’s unique technology have not been completely revealed, the company is calling it a “resinoid-based” process which infers that it prints using a material similar to resin, but not exactly the same.

Mutoh is touting their new machine as being capable of “bi-matrix structuring” which means that it has the ability to print two different materials into a single printed object, allowing for properties not seen before within the 3D printing space. An example that the company provided was printing two different materials; one with superior strength properties, and the other with flexible properties, to create a bi-matrix printed object that exhibits both superior strength and flexibility in one.

Examples of materials which can be mixed together in this unique bi-matrix process are ABS, Nylon, Silicon and more, allowing for the creation of unique elastomers with the potential to create material properties unlike anything currently in existence. In addition, the amount and type of the materials can be altered in order to 3D print an unlimited number of new bi-matrix materials. This may seem similar Stratasys’ Objet line of 3D printers, which also can combine different materials to create differing levels of flexibility, strength and other properties.

The MR-5000 uses a technology being referred to as Heat Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), but utilizes this unique resinoid formulation to print objects. Below you will find some additional specifications of this new MR-5000 3D printer from Mutoh.

• Maximum print size (X-axis × Y-axis × Z-axis): 500 × 500 × 500mm
• Z-axis minimum resolution: 0.1mm
• Head dissolution temperature setting: 150 ~ 300 ℃
• Print bed temperature settings: 50 ~ 150 ℃
• Print accuracy: ± 15μm
• Maximum number of print heads: 2
• User Interface: 15 inch color LCD (touch panel operation)
• Body mass: ~350㎏
• Printer Dimensions (W × D × H): 1,240 × 1,100 × 2,050㎜
• Input power: AC200V single-phase 50 / 60Hz
• Power consumption: up to 1.8kw

The company’s bi-matrix technology is currently patent pending, and they hope to sell 100 of these machines within the next 3 years. It should be interesting to see how well these new 3D printers catch on, and what types of prototypes and products come about using this new technology.

What do you think about this new 3D printer?  Discuss in the Value 3D Resinoid MR-5000 3D Printer forum thread on 3DPB.com.