Introducing the New Form 3 from Formlabs
This article will provide an overview of next generation of Formlabs 3D Printers – the new Form 3 and Form3L from Formlabs. The Form 2 took the 3D printing industry by storm, giving engineers access to industrial quality SLA in a desktop machine. Building on the success of this platform, the Form 3 brings even greater detail and speed for engineering teams. The Form 3 is powered by a new technology called Low Force Stereolithography. The process uses linear illumination and a flexible tank to turn liquid resins into flawless prints. It all starts with the new custom-designed light processing unit. This LPU uses a compact system of lenses and mirrors to deliver uniform illumination, resulting in accurate, repeatable prints. The flexible tank reduces peel forces, providing incredible surface finish with fewer, light-touch supports. The Form 3's integrated sensors monitor and maintain ideal conditions, for consistent performance over time. Engineers can switch between materials in seconds, and user-replaceable components maximize uptime. The Form 3L uses the same powerful LFS process but with 2 LPU's. Two lasers simultaneously build large, dense parts fast. It has an increased build volume, 5 x larger than the Form 3, for larger scale models and prototypes, or multiple [...]
HP and Smile Direct Club Collaborate
Smile Direct Club disrupting $12 billion orthodontics industry with affordable, personalized, and sustainable 3D production; nearly 20 million 3D printed mouth molds in next year. https://cimquesttv.wistia.com/medias/g2ik6jas6x?embedType=async&videoFoam=true&videoWidth=640 HP Inc. and SmileDirectClub, the pioneer of teledentistry and market leader in doctor-directed, remote clear aligner therapy, announced an expanded collaboration to revolutionize the way that millions of people can achieve a straighter smile. SmileDirectClub is powering its digital differentiation and rapid manufacturing expansion of clear aligners with HP’s Jet Fusion 3D printing solutions, making it the largest producer of Multi Jet Fusion 3D printed parts in the country. “SmileDirectClub is digitally transforming the traditional orthodontics industry, making it more personal, affordable, and convenient for millions of consumers to achieve a smile they’ll love,” said Alex Fenkell, co-founder, SmileDirectClub. “HP’s breakthrough 3D printing and data intelligence platform makes this level of disruption possible for us, pushing productivity, quality, and manufacturing predictability to unprecedented levels, all with economics that allow us to pass on savings to the consumers seeking treatment using our teledentistry platform.” Disrupting the 120-Year-Old Orthodontics Industry SmileDirectClub co-founders Alex Fenkell and Jordan Katzman first met as teens with metal braces at summer camp, later deciding that innovations in technology and telehealth could democratize access [...]
Keynote Speaker for Xpand3D Event Just Announced
Xpand3D is excited to announce the first keynote speaker: Ric Fulop, CEO and Co-Founder of Desktop Metal. Ric Fulop is the CEO and co-founder of Desktop Metal, a company committed to accelerating the transformation of manufacturing with end-to-end metal 3D printing solutions. Founded in 2015 by leaders in advanced manufacturing, materials science, and robotics, the company is addressing the unmet challenges of speed, cost, and quality to make metal 3D printing an essential tool for engineers and manufacturers around the world. Stay tuned to future newsletters for the exact schedule of speakers and presentations. Early Bird registration is now open for Xpand3D. This upcoming event will cover all aspects of the 3D printing, design and manufacturing industries - all in one place, over the course of three days. Mark your calendars and SAVE THE DATE October 15 - 17, 2019 Where Manufacturing Happens Click the button below to secure your spot and register for this event. For exhibitor or sponsorship info, please contact Emily Moore at emoore@cimquest-inc.com. Register Here
Cimquest is Growing
Please help Cimquest in welcoming our two newest employees Anna Acquaviva and Jake Manganiello. Anna and Jake will be Subscription Service Associates. They will be responsible for customer engagement and subscription retention strategies which will play a critical role in the future growth of Cimquest. Anna Acquaviva lives in Bridgewater, NJ. She's the only one in her immediate family born in the US and she actually learned to speak Italian before learning English. Anna came to Cimquest from a NJ-based business news journal called NJBIZ, where she was the events and marketing director. Jake Manganiello is a recent college grad of Rowan University. He studied at the Rohrer Business school, majoring in business marketing and economics. Jake worked at TD Bank for a number of years, as well as a small marketing firm in Jersey City. Jake grew up in the small town of Mountainside, NJ in a family of seven.
3D Printing Helps the World’s Largest Furniture Manufacturer
In the face of decades of shifting markets, endless new technologies, and unprecedented labor shortages, Ashley Furniture has only continued to grow. In 2005, they became the largest furniture manufacturer in the world, a title they still hold today. The company followed the arch most American businesses of its era dreamed of. Its first manufacturing facility opened in Arcadia, Wisconsin in 1970 with 35 employees, since blossoming into a global company with 900+ stores around the world. Ashley's factories produce more than 300,000 pieces of furniture a week, amounting to about 26 million a year. A careful look around Ashley’s Arcadia facilities reveals the recipe for their success, and it is a recipe. Like most modern manufacturers you’ll find a variety of robots, but the company hasn’t found—and aren’t looking for—silver-bullet solutions. Rather, they focus on a model of continuous improvement. It’s the cumulation of these improvements, and a culture that encourages them, that’s fueled their growth and unbroken grip on the #1 ranking. 3D printing, for example, has slowly trickled onto the factory floor, and gradually reorganized manufacturing processes from fabrication to assembly. Watch the video below to learn how Ashley Furniture went from one idea to 700 3D printed parts in [...]
A Closer Look at the HP Jet Fusion 500 Series 3D Printer
Building on the success of the Jet Fusion 4200, the HP Jet Fusion 500 Series 3D Printer is tailored for small to medium-sized development teams looking for a more compact, office-friendly solution. Designed for in-house prototyping and small scale production, these printers can produce fully functional parts with optimal mechanical properties either in vibrant full color or white depending on the printer model. The 500 Series integrates mixing, loading, printing, and reclaiming material in one machine. Upon preparing your build with HP’s software, HP’s High Reusability Nylon 12 Color Boost thermoplastic powder is automatically dispensed, mixed, and delivered to the print area. The powder is spread evenly across the build platform. The print carriage featuring HP Thermal inkjet array passes over the build area depositing fusing, detailing, and coloring agents. During another pass, the area is exposed to infrared energy which fuses the part’s layers together. The build platform is lowered and the process repeats. When printing is complete, ambient air cooling ensures part integrity. There is automated vibration and air flow, and then the machine extracts the unused material from within the build chamber. Unused material is reclaimed inside the chamber for future builds. Throughout the process, material is completely contained within [...]