by Industrial Print Magazine staff
RAPID + TCT returns to the West Coast this June 25, to 27, 2024. Held at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, CA, SME and Rapid News Publications join forces to provide the latest in three-dimensional (3D) printing technology.
The three-day event includes a conference with more than 160 technical presentations. New this year is the Hollywood Showcase, an exploration of the role of additive manufacturing (AM) in movie magic, and The Discovery Zone, a launchpad for new exhibitors with groundbreaking ideas.
Above: Formlabs, booth 1829, showcases Form 4, the company’s new flagship resin 3D printer.
Exhibit Hall
In addition, over 400 exhibitors showcase products and services related to AM in an expansive exhibit hall. We include some of the vendors participating here.
3DCeram Sinto, Inc., booth 810, manufactures 3D printers and materials specializing in the printing of advanced technical ceramics. These printers and materials are used at private and government space agencies and their suppliers for the advancement of high-temperature ceramics for aerospace. These are also the biocompatible materials tested for use in the medical implant and dental industry. Visit the booth to see some of the samples in space, aerospace, medical, dental, and industrial applications for printed technical ceramics. INFO# 150
6K Additive, booth 2413, enables you to think beyond today with premium AM powders like 316L Ni718 or Ti64 to name a few. These materials are truly spherical, void of porosity and satellites with better flowability than competing technologies. It utilizes UniMelt, a robust production platform that delivers the highest premium powder for AM. What’s more, the company leverages sustainable sources as feedstock. Whether it’s certified millings from CNC, grindings, used additive powder, or even the support material used in AM, it leverages it all. There is no excess waste or other cut sizes that head off to the landfill or sit in a warehouse. INFO# 151
Addiblast, booth 2217, presents the MARS04 depowdering station with connection to the STAR01 inline transfer and recycling unit. The MARS04 is a state-of-the-art depowdering machine designed to enhance post-processing in AM. With a build plate volume of 600x600x1,000 millimeters and a substantial load capacity of 900 kg, it efficiently manages large-scale production needs. Alongside the MARS04, the STAR01 continues to offer reliable service as a transfer and recycling unit, integral to streamlining production processes. Visitors to the booth can witness the company’s machines in virtual reality. This immersive experience allows for interacting with the machine in a detailed virtual environment, providing a deeper understanding of its capabilities and design. INFO# 152
ARBURGadditive, booth 2001, displays its broad portfolio for reliable, high-value 3D printing. A high-temperature Freeformer 750-3X processes plastic pellets of Ultem 9085. The application (app) ProcessLog is also at the show, which can be used to reliably track process quality. The Freeformer 750-3X processes virgin plastic pellets and certified materials, including hard/soft combinations and high-temperature materials. For this purpose, the build chamber can be heated up to 200 degrees Celsius. A typical application is the production of geometrically demanding ventilation ducts for the aerospace industry from virgin Ultem 9085 pellets. For patient-specific implants or ventilation ducts in aeroplanes it is essential that parameters to produce each individual component can be fully documented and traced. To this end, ARBURG offers the ProcessLog customer portal app, which visualizes and documents a range of process and build order data. INFO# 153
BMF, booth 1139, showcases its newest printer, the microArch D1025, the first platform in a new hybrid resolution technology series. Powered by PµSL and based on BMF’s new hybrid resolution technology, the microArch D1025 prints in dual resolution in 10µm and 25µm single-use modes and within the same print layer. The microArch D1025 delivers improved built-in automation, which enables greater efficiency—saving time, resources, and cost. Delivering the same ultra-high resolution, accuracy, and precision BMF is known for, the new D1025 revolutionizes the prototyping and production of parts requiring micron-level precision and repeatability. INFO# 154
Caracol, booth 2201, showcases its Heron platform—a turnkey solution integrating hardware, software, and automation for industrial production. A robotized extrusion system designed for precision and reliability, the Heron promises to elevate manufacturing standards for large, complex, and critical parts. Caracol’s systems are made to process a range of materials. Thoroughly tested and qualified by the Caracol MATERIAL LAB for direct, continuous printing—from advanced polymers and composites to recycled materials derived from upcycled waste or parts at the end of their life. INFO# 155
EOS, booth 2639, invites attendees to explore the capabilities of the new EOS 300-4 1kW metal AM system, built for high-temperature materials application production such as aluminum and copper. The system features four powerful, one kilowatt lasers to meet the production requirements of applications such as aluminum brackets, heat exchangers, inductors, and e-mobility components. INFO# 156
Evonik, booth 2047, underscores its position as an industry powerhouse with a spotlight on PA12, a material at the forefront of powder bed fusion solutions for three decades. With 30 years of PA12 experience, Evonik has honed its craft, ensuring PA12 remains the material of choice for a range of applications due to its exceptional performance. Among the innovations on display are PA613, material engineered for high-temperatures, offering enhanced thermal stability and chemical resistance. For applications requiring flexibility and durability, Evonik presents its thermoplastic polyamide elastomers, TPA and TPC, tailored for elastomeric applications and creating parts with rubber-like properties combined with the ease of thermoplastic processing. Another product featured is encapsulated black PA12. This material produces parts in a deep, rich black without post-processing dyeing, with streamlined production and aesthetically pleasing results straight from the printer. INFO# 157
Formlabs, booth 1829, showcases Form 4, the company’s new flagship resin 3D printer. Form 4 is Formlabs’ fastest printer yet, with print speeds that are up to five times faster with unmatched reliability, print quality, and ease of use. Form 4 enables AM to unlock new levels of productivity for product designers, engineers, manufacturers, healthcare professionals, and innovators, delivering most parts in under two hours to accelerate time to market and compete against traditional manufacturing processes, even outperforming injection molding head-to-head. INFO# 158
HP Personalization and 3D Printing, booth 2839, exhibits its ongoing momentum in the 3D printing of metals and polymers, featuring new hardware capabilities and materials. HP’s full material portfolio is on display, including the recently launched HP 3D HR PA 12 S material, developed in collaboration with Arkema, with experts on-site to discuss HP’s continuous innovation in materials. Additionally, a range of applications demonstrate how HP’s customers in the medical, industrial, and consumer sectors are pushing the boundaries of innovation and accelerating their growth in AM. INFO# 159
JEOL, booth 2421, displays many sample industrial parts made from Ti64, nickel alloy 718, and pure copper, and debuts its newest material offering—3D Printed Pure Tungsten. JEOL’s Electron Beam Powder Bed Fusion technology offers its users unprecedented capabilities in AM—fast build rates, fewer required manufacturing operations equals better business cases. INFO# 160
JuggerBot 3D, booth 2827, features large format composite tools serving defense, aerospace, and rail. All parts are printed with functionality from the JuggerBot 3D, a digital product that leverages vital material and process data to bridge skill-gaps, streamline production, and improve reliability when operating pellet-fed 3D printers. Live printing demonstrations are performed throughout the course of the show on JuggerBot’s large format pellet-fed system, the Tradesman Series P3-44. INFO# 161
Markforged, booth 1813, showcases its next-generation industrial 3D printer—the FX10. Designed to be the most versatile tool for the factory floor, the FX10 features a modular architecture that prints strong, accurate parts every time. The printer features an advanced material chamber with automatic material changeover, a larger print bed with faster print speeds, and advanced sensors to ensure in-print dimensional accuracy. Markforged also showcases the PX100 metal jet binder printer, and its new Digital Source platform that enables distributed manufacturing with built-in IP security for part owners. INFO# 162
Materialise, booth 2821, announces the next version of Magics, a leading data and build preparation software for AM. Focused on achieving first-time-right prints every time, this update introduces enhancements for both polymer and metal users. By handling complex data with beam lattices, users can optimize their designs and reduce the weight of their parts. Additionally, the upgraded 3D Nester and Support Generation modules help ensure superior build quality. Considering users’ needs and requests for every release, Magics now offers unprecedented speed and includes a dark theme option. INFO# 163
Meltio, booth 2327, exhibits the new Meltio M600 metal 3D printer, which has the capacity to manufacture aluminum and copper parts as well as many other materials such as steels, titanium, inconel, and nickel. Also on display is Force Automation’s robotic integration Made in the U.S. and powered by Meltio and the Meltio wire laser metal 3D printing head integrated in a CNC machine. INFO# 164
PostProcess, booth 2213, showcases three cutting-edge solutions. Unveiled in February, the DEMI X 520 introduces Axial Flow Technology to the Submersed Vortex Cavitation family, revolutionizing automated resin removal. Also featured is the BASE system, automating support removal for fused deposition modeling (FDM) printing. Completing the trio is the DEMI 830, acclaimed for its effectiveness in post-processing across polyjet, FDM, and resin printing methods. INFO# 165
Printpal showcases in partner booths its latest and most advanced artificial intelligence (AI) model that detects various failure types including spaghetti, warping, blobbing, and layer shifting. It does so by using either an externally mounted camera or the camera that comes built into the printer. Multiple partners, some OEMs, and a cloud management software company showcase this AI capability on their machines and platforms. INFO# 166
Roboze, booth 2127, presents its comprehensive approach to the production lifecycle, from design through to delivery. Discover how its expert consultancy in Design for Additive transforms concepts into functional prototypes swiftly and efficiently, paving the way for robust production with industrial-grade printers such as the ARGO 1000 HYPERMELT and ARGO 500 HYPERSPEED. These printers utilize super polymers and composites to deliver high-quality parts at scale. Roboze not only supplies premier 3D printers but also provides the essential materials and expert knowledge required for every production phase, including advanced post-processing and digital warehousing solutions. INFO# 167
Keep Watching
The RAPID + TCT 2024 event promises to be filled with innovation in the AM field.
Jun2024, Industrial Print Magazine
