By Industrial Print Magazine Staff
RAPID + TCT took place at the end of June over on the West Coast as the Los Angeles Convention Center in CA. Based on announcements and attendee feedback it was a successful event. SME and Rapid News Group, which partners to produce the show, reports over 9,000 professionals visited the exhibition for both the trade show floor as well as the conference.
Here’s a roundup of new three-dimensional (3D) printing technology showcased at RAPID + TCT.
3D Systems added to its portfolio of EXT Titan Pellet systems—the EXT 800 Titan Pellet. With a build volume of 800x600x800 millimeter (mm), manufacturers can take advantage of the lights-out, production-ready EXT 800 Titan Pellet to fabricate more modestly sized functional prototypes, tooling, fixtures, sand casting patterns, thermoforming molds, and end use parts. The EXT 800 Titan Pellet is designed to efficiently, cost-effectively address applications in markets including foundries, aerospace and defense, thermoforming, prosthetics and footwear, and research.
Additive Industries launched the latest iteration of its MetalFab 3D printing technology, the MetalFab 300 Flex. The metal powder bed fusion system features two full-field 500 watt lasers, but can be upgraded to four. The standard build area sits at 11.81×11.81×15.75 inches, but can be increased to the larger 16.54×16.54×15.75 inches envelope on-demand via a monthly or lifetime license.
BigRep released its new industrial fused filament fabrication (FFF) 3D printer, the VIIO 250. The printer is built to produce large, high-resolution parts as effortlessly as possible so users can simply press print, and the machine takes it from there with little to no manual intervention. The breakthrough features for uninterrupted printing are the seamless automatic filament handling named Infinity Box and the backup extruder functionality called Relay Mode, both of which enable around-the-clock production. The FFF printer also has a new controls platform delivering industrial CNC quality and the convenience of over-the-air software updates.
Colibrium Additive unveiled the Spectra M electron beam melting (EB-PBF) 3D printing system. The Spectra M was developed in response to interest from additive manufacturers in a smaller build volume EB-PBF printer. It features a build envelope of Ø270 x 430 mm, a beam power of 4.5 kW, and can process Ti6Al4V Grade 5 and Ti6Al4V Grade 23.
Creality introduced several products. The K2 Plus 3D printer offers a large 350 mm cubed build volume and multi-filament capabilities. Powered by the Creality Filament System, it supports up to four 1kg filament rolls, enabling 16-color prints with RFID-enabled filament management. Another product on display was the HALOT-Mage S 14K printer, which delivers precise prints with a 10.1-inch 14K mono LCD. It features Dynax+ mode, a uniform light source, and Smart HALOT OS for remote printing and includes a built-in air purifier for an odor-free experience.
HP Inc. unveiled advancements to its HP Metal Jet 3D Printing Solution. Enhancements to the HP Metal Jet S100 Printing Solution include an increased build height up to 170 mm, allowing for the production of larger parts and more parts in a single build cycle. HP also introduced new materials through collaborations with Indo-MIM and Sandvik. These materials include IndoMIM M2 Tool Steel, ideal for high-strength mold inserts and cutting tools, and Sandvik’s Osprey 316L, which offers improved corrosion resistance and processability for applications in the medical, automotive, and industrial markets. Finally, HP launched the HP Metal Jet Production Service. This new service is accessible via a dedicated website where customers can submit queries, request sample parts, and access comprehensive production services.
Lithoz highlighted its global Ceramic 3D Factory network and launched CeraControl software. The Ceramic 3D Factory unites Lithoz technology and service bureaus all over the world in one global network for interconnected serial production across fields such as semiconductor production, aerospace, and MedTech. The network is strengthened by CeraControl software, which allows for 100 globally interconnected CeraFab S65 3D printers.
Materialise and nTop collaborated with the integration of nTop Core, nTop’s implicit modeling API, with Materialise’s Magics 3D Print Suite and NxG Build Processor. This allows manufacturers to accelerate the entire design-to-manufacturing process and enable the production of complex parts that were previously impossible to print. nTop has developed a new implicit modeling kernel and corresponding file format that characterizes highly complex, high-performance geometries at a fraction of the size of traditional CAD or mesh-based files. Materialise’s NxG Build Processor is configurable software that translates large and complex 3D design files into 3D printable instructions, optimizing and managing the 3D printing process from start to finish.
Nexa3D launched the Xyon advanced carbon fibre-filled polymer 3D printing filament for its newly acquired High Speed Extrusion additive manufacturing platforms. Among the key features of Xyon are its durability and reliability, with Nexa3D suggesting the material caters to both prototyping and manufacturing applications. The company also says Xyon is engineered to be highly cost-effective and works within existing print parameters, ensuring broad compatibility, easy integration, and seamless transitions for users of competitive products.
nTop introduced its nTop 5 software, which it describes as a leap forward in computational design technology. Included in the new release is a new implicit modeling kernel that is said to deliver greater performance and precision, having taken learnings from previous customer applications. nTop also secured five new integration partners, who are now able to read and query implicit models natively in their software, helping users to create more efficient end-to-end workflows. Alongside the launch of nTop 5, the nTop Core developer library platform was updated to use nTop’s latest implicit modeling kernel. With it, nTop has expanded the implicit ecosystem to include mechanical simulation, computational fluid dynamics, and build preparation tools.
Stratasys Ltd. showcased new material, SAF Polypropylene (PP) for use on the Stratasys H350 printer. Stratasys SAF PP, offered in partnership with BASF Forward AM, is designed to provide greater cost efficiency and superior part quality in powder bed fusion technologies. This material offers a lower cost per part and exceptional surface aesthetics as compared to existing materials and is designed to meet the rigorous demands of high-volume production while maintaining exceptional overall quality. SAF PP is engineered for a range of applications, catering to diverse industries such as automotive, medical, consumer sports, and industrial sectors. The new material has also demonstrated the capability to produce robust, defect-free parts with complex geometries, such as flexible tight pipes and intricate sensor mounts.
RAPID + TCT heads back to Detroit, MI in 2025, with the event taking place April 8 to 10, 2025. It co-locates with both SAE’s WCX and SME’s AeroDef Manufacturing event to reach a broader audience from the automotive and defense sectors.
Jul2024, Industrial Print Magazine
