Stratasys

As 3D printing has become more and more mainstream, the traditional resource and skills barriers for manufacturing are all but vanishing. This trend is changing the very face of design. For the first time, producing complex products is no more difficult, expensive, or time-consuming than making simpler objects. 3D printing a block with holes, notches, and rounded edges is as approachable as printing a solid block once was. The 3D printers give designers unprecedented control [...]

As 3D printing has become more and more mainstream, the traditional resource and skills barriers for manufacturing are all but vanishing. This trend is changing the very face of design. For the first time, producing complex products is no more difficult, expensive, or time consuming than making simpler objects. 3D printing a block with holes, notches, and rounded edges is as approachable as printing a solid block once was. The 3D printers give designers unprecedented [...]

As the adoption of additive manufacturing processes continues to take hold in aviation, with leaders like Airbus incorporating hundreds of printed parts on their new generation aircraft, and Boeing production lines, we’re starting to recognize a next level of maturity in how regulations are being implemented to accommodate for these changes. Airline carriers are beginning to use additive manufacturing to reduce inventory and alleviate supply chain constraints, but there is no better example of 3D [...]

Think about the last time you took a commercial flight. What are some of the distinct things you remember about the aircraft cabin? If you could, how would you change some of the design elements using 3D printing technologies? The Paris Airshow recently took place and Stratasys was there to exhibit some of the new and innovative ways they think about aircraft interiors. From individual part weight reduction to a more comfortable layout and design, [...]

There’s a revolutionary new technology in 3D printing called the Stratasys Infinite Build. 3D printing has provided a means to produce highly accurate parts in a variety of build sizes. With production machines like the Fortus 900 and Objet 1000, industry leaders in both aerospace and automotive have been able to experiment with increasingly larger prototypes and production parts. Nonetheless, there has always been a ceiling (or cap) on the size of a part making [...]

The Problem: Complex composite parts with hollow interiors are difficult to manufacture. Complex composite structures, with hollow interiors, present unique manufacturing challenges where internal tooling, generally referred to as a cores or mandrel, is required to define the hollow internal features. Any part configuration that traps the mandrel inside the composite part, requires sacrificial tooling* or a more complex, collapsible or inflatable tool. *Sacrificial tooling – tooling that is only used once and must be [...]

There is a new game-changing thermoplastic material for the Stratasys FDM family called Nylon 12CF. The CF is an abbreviation for carbon filled. In this material, chopped carbon fibers are added to a proven FDM Nylon 12 polymer blend resulting in one of the strongest thermoplastics in the FDM material portfolio. Commercial production of carbon fiber began in the early 1960's, resulting from requirements for lighter weight parts and alternatives to metal. Its low thermal [...]

3D printing is a powerful technology with the potential to significantly change the practice of medicine. In the field of structural heart disease, this rapidly evolving technology can make a powerful impact. Limitations of two-dimensional imaging and added benefits of 3D printing Current conventional cardiac imaging modalities such as echocardiography (EKG), cardiac computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) primarily utilize two-dimensional (2D) methods that require significant expertise and experience to interpret. In the [...]