MakerBot is an influential brand in the 3D Printing industry, acknowledged by many as a standard in consumer desktop printers and with the release of the Replicator +, they have descended deeper into the prosumer market through a highly refined printing platform. This platform can be used in product development, providing convenient access to prototypes and concept models early on in the design process. In this article, we will discuss some of the new features of this machine. The Replicator+ has a similar design to its predecessor and includes the standard features of LCD display, on-board camera to remotely monitor prints, USB, wifi, and Ethernet connectivity. However, the build plate has been redesigned, featuring the new Grip Surface allowing for better part adherence and a reduction in warping. Prints are also easier to remove with the bendable Flex Build Plate and the machine is much quieter than the last release. Where the Replicator + really excels is in its speed and build volume. The Replicator + prints 30% faster than the original and offers a 25% larger build volume. It is also more reliable due to its redesigned gantry and z-stage. This boost in speed is made possible by the Smart Extruder +. All printers [...]

Buckeye Current, from Ohio State University (OSU), is one of the fastest collegiate electric motorcycle teams in the world. A big part of their success is the ability to design and produce one-off motorcycle components to their exacting specifications – quickly and cost-effectively. That’s where Stratasys 3D Printing comes in. The OSU team’s intent was to design and build a custom motorcycle that could then be raced at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, the second-oldest motorsport event in North America, and the result was the RW-3x motorcycle. To meet the tough requirements of this grueling race, the team needed complex, one-off, custom-designed parts to house some of the most important components of the motorcycle. Here are Buckeye Current’s accomplishments in recent years… A large part of the RW-3x is its main electronic attachment, located on the bottom of the vehicle, under the battery pack. This 18x12x6 inch component is by far the largest 3D printed piece that the Buckeye Current has ever used. It wouldn’t have been possible without the large build tray on the Stratasys Fortus 900mc Production 3D Printer. This component was 3D printed in the resolution and tight precision needed for such a critical part, and it functions to [...]

Using a Stratasys 3D Printer for design verification during the product development cycle means that many more design iterations are feasible, weeding out mistakes and creating better-designed products. Top swimming gear brand Speedo has used its Stratasys Objet350 Connex 3D Printer for over half a decade. Famous for both kitting out top swimmers and its supremely secret product development process, Speedo gave Stratasys UK reseller SYS Systems a small glimpse inside. The product development arm of Speedo is focused at their research and development center, Aqualab, in Nottingham, England. They use their Stratasys PolyJet-based 3D printer to prototype and validate designs prior to production for vital equipment like goggles or other “hard goods,” such as training aids and swim caps. Early and accurate design validation not only reduces the design cycle but also screens out design flaws prior to production. Prior to having a 3D printer in-house, the product development cycle could take weeks or months and relied on a maximum of two hand-tooled samples before going into large-scale production. Changes made after the production tooling was created were prohibitively expensive. Now, designs can be 3D printed, in multiple materials when necessary, in a day or less and be tested directly [...]