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3D PRINTING/ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING FEATURE high speed 3d


printer can now be pre-ordered


Stratasys’ new F3300 fused deposition modelling (FDM) 3D printer can now be pre-ordered from Tri-Tech 3D, with shipping scheduled for Q2 of 2024. According to the company, the 3D printer


can print up to twice as fast as alternative printers, while offering significant improvements in cost per part and reliability. Featuring four print heads and easy-to-


recycle spools, the machine allows operators to preload and print in different materials and colours to achieve a high-quality end product. Its tool changer allows operators to switch between the four print heads, while a heated chamber allows for multi-resolution and multicolour while improving mechanical properties. Operators can also adjust the print speed and layer height to produce parts with intricate details. Furthermore, advanced software means that the machine fills voids in a way that allows for higher part density, resulting in stronger parts. “Because the machine features four


enables performance assessments of the ‘as-manufactured’ part, and the development of richer digital twins that are more accurate than simulation alone, to inform decisions during the product design phase. Better use of data also plays a crucial role in


making the most of AM’s immediacy and agility, especially in the case of more complex materials with novel compositions. A lack of understanding of how a material will perform in the manufacturing process may impact the viability of the prototype and speed of development, from initial concept to production. Hexagon’s MaterialCenter, for example,


connects Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) with databases on a vast range of material behaviour and manufacturing techniques that can feed into virtual testing, creating better chances for successful adoption of innovative, high-performance 3D-printed materials such as Markforged’s carbon fibre composites or Stratasys’ aerospace thermoplastics.


ConneCting data aCross the shopfloor


Currently, utilising AM on an industrial scale is hampered by a complicated array of potentially incompatible tools, and this makes it difficult to scale and replicate manufacturing processes globally. On top of this, existing solutions on the market tend to be complex and expensive, limiting their uptake for manufacturing applications. The key to addressing this problem is machine-


independent and CAD software-agnostic workflows. The recently introduced Hexagon Additive Manufacturing Suite connects the metal AM process development workflow shops need from any CAD through build preparation to 3D


printing and CNC post-processing stages, so that production teams can speed up their manufacturing processes and lower AM costs. Production teams must strive to achieve the operational excellence that they expect from subtractive processes, and this means they cannot be restricted to having to source and learn specialist tools from multiple vendors or be forced to use software that is tied to specific machines – open and agnostic workflows will bring agility and repeatability to the shopfloor. Today, that ‘shopfloor’ is more likely to exist in a


subcontractor. Even a moderately-sized business can choose to connect their workflows through the Nexus platform, with the immediate benefit of file management, automating repetitive tasks and refining best practice internally. The shopfloor team can call their customer to share design modifications or a metrology report, and discuss specifications using a live web-based 3D visualisation of up-to-date working files. The forward-looking OEM has the opportunity to forge a close partnership with key contractors to make the paradigm shift to ‘design with manufacturing’ from DfAM and learn to scale up additive manufacturing alongside existing processes. In additive manufacturing, sophisticated


digital platforms are revolutionising how teams collaborate and automate tasks. By putting data to work and gradually integrating previously isolated tools, these open platforms will continue to boost the flexibility and efficiency of processes. Such innovations are expanding the reach of 3D printing, making it more accessible and applicable across industries.


hexagon Manufacturing intelligence https://hexagon.com/


FEBRUARY 2024 design soLUtions 43


material chambers, operators can print large parts without having to stop to reload the material spools,” explained Rob Pitts, sales manager at Tri-Tech 3D. “The spool size and design means users can save 25% of their material cost. Coupled with significantly faster printing times and reduced downtime, you can expect to achieve 45% lower cost per part.” Of further benefit, the sensors enable


predictive maintenance to prevent machine downtime and ensure quality parts. The strain gauges on the extruders enable the system to signal when parameters such as push force, position, temperature or velocity are incorrect, preventing the machine from printing a part that will fail. “If moisture enters a typical 3D printer it


can turn into vapour when extruded, creating air bubbles in the part and reducing part quality,” said Yann Rageul, VP commercial enablement additive manufacturing at Stratasys. “To prevent this from happening, the F3300 is equipped with integrated material dryers to eliminate poor quality and failed parts due to material moisture.” Although designed primarily for end


use part production, the F3300 can also be used for prototyping.


tri-tech 3d www.tritech3d.co.uk


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