3D Platform Brings Industry New Standards through SurePrint Servo Technology
Michelle Matisons
In the 3D printing industry we constantly hear two words that customers are seeking: quality and speed. And it appears Roscoe, Illinois-based 3D Platform, previously known as 3DP Unlimited, has proven to deliver on both of these qualities with its latest technological advancement. 3D Platform (3DP) manufactures some of the world’s highest-quality large industrial-sized 3D printers. With engineers whose expertise lies in linear motion and mechatronics, the company is on the cutting edge of 3D printing industry related research and development. Its most recent contribution to the industry is SurePrint Servo Technology.
SurePrint is a motor technology available to 3DP’s large scale industrial style additive manufacturing machines. It moves up to 45% faster, has an 85% greater torque, and features an cuts overall cycle times almost by 50%. Each motor has “20,000 count encoders embedded in it,” according to a company press release, and since 3DP uses a “smart ‘closed loop’ system” to provide positional feedback, it can improve the quality of prints by automatically adjusting for accuracy.
John Good, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at 3D Platform, summarizes how both quality and speed play into the company’s latest offering:
“SurePrint is equivalent to swapping your car’s 200 HP motor with a 375 HP motor—you immediately gain drive torque. And when you add smart traction control, you gain greater control and precision. The results for our customers are greater positional accuracy, so that layer lines lessen, print quality increases…and print times can be shortened.”
Another excellent feature that is very industry-friendly is SurePrint‘s “upgradeability” — due to its open platform philosophy. This means that the SurePrint Servo motors share the same build as the “open loop” stepper motors, so current 3DP users can upgrade without any problems.
A feature we hear more and more about in 3D printing is “eco-friendly” in both hardware and materials. According to the company, SurePrint Servo generates 50% less heat and 67% less energy overall. This improves the machine’s immediate environment as well as raises the bar on industrial-sized additive manufacturing machine’s contribution to energy conservation.
“The SurePrint Servo is a win-win-win,” Good said. “It allows operators to print faster, increase accuracy, and decrease energy usage. Not only will this be available on new machines, but these advancements are available for any of our existing units in the field.”
Who can argue with environmentally friendly, upgradeable, higher quality, and faster printing? Change is definitely in the air for 3D Platform, as a name change often implies.
With a new product like the SurePrint Servo and a new company name and strategy, not only is change in the air, but it will most likely be favoring a company that contributes new industry standards as it manufactures the world’s highest quality large format 3D printers.
