Design verification prototype of medical device tubing 3D printed in PolyJet Agilus30 material. Stratasys just launched two new materials for 3D printing and rapid prototyping customers. Agilus30 is a flexible PolyJet material family (available in black and translucent colors), providing enhanced tear resistance and superior rubber-like quality. It’s ideal for product design verification and even some functional performance tests. At the other end of the prototyping spectrum, there is the new FDM Nylon 12CF material. This is the first carbon fiber-filled FDM material, providing a very high tensile strength and unprecedented stiffness-to-weight ratio. This 3D printed composite material is ideal for advanced RP functional performance testing – with the ability to replace metal prototypes or molded carbon-fiber prototypes – as well as being ideal for manufacturing-floor jigs, fixtures, tooling and end-use parts. Functional prototype of an automotive brake pedal and jig assembly 3D printed in FDM Nylon 12CF material. The combination of both new materials significantly expands the range of properties and performance customers can choose from when prototyping, tooling and manufacturing parts and products. The Stratasys 3D printing revolution just took another big step forward today. And there’re only just getting started! Watch the video below to learn [...]

As is well known, the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) is the technology conference and generation systems country 's most important medical images. In the 2015 edition, which coincided with the centenary of society, special attention was given to the cutting-edge technologies and tools that help radiologists, including Stratasys 3D printing. One of the applications in the field of medicine that has continued to spark considerable interest in this year's conference is the use of patient images to create medical models printed in 3D. Stratasys participated in four full-capacity workshops led by Dr. Frank Rybicki of Ottawa Hospital. The sessions provided hands-on training to more than 600 physicians worldwide who were taught to take pictures of patients with MRI or CT scans, to isolate the anatomy of interest, and to prepare the files for printing on 3D Stratasys. More than 600 physicians participated in a hands-on workshop to learn how to prepare patient images for 3D printing using Strauss's 3D Materialise software and printers. "Physicians have effective tools for performing anatomical scans and converting them into 3D printed models on Stratasys 3D printers; This increases the success of interventions through better planning, "said Scott Rader, CEO [...]

This article will discuss two examples of 3D printing for custom automobile components. The automobile industry is the epitome of diversity in consumer products. There is such a wide variety of cars and models to choose from based on attributes like; performance, functionality, efficiency, and level of luxury. Most consumers develop strong connections to their car and brand, and they'll typically choose a car they feel is an expression of their identity. But as with most products, it is usually the vision of the designer that the customer selects, since the customer does not actively participate in the design process. In our first example, Daihatsu Motor Company based in Japan sought to bring customers into the design process by offering more customization. They partnered with Stratasys and an outside design firm to create Effect Skins - intricate, tactile patterns built with Stratasys 3D printers. These cosmetic components are placed on the front and rear bumpers of the Daihatsu Copen, an eye-catching two-door convertible. The Effect Skins frame the head and tail lights, giving a unique expression or "face" to the car. They are made with durable ASA, so that wall thickness could be minimized for design flexibility. Honda Access Co., a producer of [...]

In our first installment of this post, we explained why firms looking to stay ahead of their competition must focus, more than ever before, on compressing their product development cycles. Firms today are under greater pressure from two directions – both from the increasing demands of consumers for product variety and by the accompanying trend toward shorter product lifetimes. Compounding this challenge is that between 70% and 90%* of total project costs are determined during the early stages of the development process – in other words, during the design and prototyping stage. Filtering Professional RP Down to SMBs and Design Workgroups As a result, it’s vital that companies get their designs and prototypes right the first time – the earlier the better – before costs begin to spiral outwards and upwards into the more expensive stages of product development and deployment. To ensure product prototyping is faster, more effective and cost-efficient, larger enterprises are already well into mature adoption of in-house professional 3D printing capabilities, a trend that is over 20 years old. The challenge now is to provide the same professional levels of 3D printing and rapid prototyping capabilities to small- and medium-sized companies. They face the same or greater pressures as [...]