STRATASYS Equipment
for rapid prototyping
A path from the idea to the product should be the shortest.
Application of rapid prototyping (RP) technologies allows increasing
engineering and design production planning efficiency.
During new products development
there is always a necessity in prototypes,
so-called product models-prototypes, its
separate parts and assemblies.
Pre-production models provide the
following possibilities:
- Marketing and advertising
departments can organize efficient
market investigation by demonstrating to
customers and clients samples of the
future product as well as use these
samples in advertising campaigns;
- Designers and engineers can easily
evaluate exterior and ergonomics of the
product being in development; check it
for assembly fitness and functionality of
its design. These results are used for
introduction of necessary iterative
changes before putting it into production;
- Production engineers can use these
samples as master models for
manufacturing traditional technological
fixtures (for example, casting molds) or
for making silicon molds for rapid
production of test samples;
- Enterprise patent departments have
much more time for applying for patents;
Many industrial leaders are using for
this purpose equipment developed by the
American company Stratasys, which
uses FDM technology.
FDM Technology
Abbreviation FDM means Fused
Deposition Modeling, which is based
on a layer-to-layer deposition of a fused
polymer filament through a special
head in accordance with geometry of a
mathematical model developed by
CAD system. Special software (Insighttm
and Catalyst™) orients a model before
its building, divides it into horizontal
layers and, when necessary, also
generates supports required for
overhanging model parts.
One can produce several parts
simultaneously if they can be
accommodated inside a working
envelope of the equipment.
If prototype dimensions are larger
than a working zone it can be built as
separate parts and then assembled.
Rapid and Simple Model Production
Simple technology allows producing
models within several hours. Finished
model can be used immediately after
building as it does not require long
subsequent finishing.
Safe Technologies and Pollution-free Modeling Materials
Modern materials used for model
building on Stratasys equipment do not
require special laboratories and
conditions (for example, exhaust
systems). They can be placed in design
offices near engineers’ desks.
Accuracy
Accuracy of prototypes production on
Stratasys equipment runs up to 0.127
mm, which is the same as the accuracy
of plastic parts made in usual injection
molds.
Variety of Modeling Materials
Modern modeling materials for
prototypes building are used in
manufacturing of finished products and
are distinguished by structural strength,
durability, thermal stability and thus
ensure high accuracy and functionality
of prototype models – they can be used
for assembly of functioning prototypes.
They include ABS Plastic, polycarbonate
(PC) and PPSF (polyphenilsulphon).
In comparison with ABS, PC is
characterized by high tensile strength,
flexibility and rigidity. Moreover, PC and
PPSF models are more stable. They have
high heat distortion level and durability.
That makes it possible to use such
models for low volume fabrication. ABS
models remain stability up to 93°C, PC
models – up to 125C° and PPSF models up to
189°C.(!)
PPSF is
characterized be
antifreeze, motor
oil, gasoline and
acid resistance.
PPSF and ABSi
are certified by the
American Ministry
of Health for
medical purposes.
WaterWorks™
Technology
This technology
simplifies removal of
supports used during a
model building by
washing them out in an
ultrasonic bath filled withspecial water solution. WaterWorks™
technology is implemented only by
Stratasys almost in every product
modification. Models built with this
technology have no scratches and
surface marks, they remain small details.
This gives possibility to build shell-type
parts and parts with intricate inner
cavities.
Simple Service
There is no need for the operator to
control the modeling process, so these
machines can work at night shifts and
during holidays. They are compact,
simple and cheap in maintenance; their
mechanical drives are designed to
operate for a long term.
Wide Range of Models
RP technologies are used both by
industrial giants and small businesses.
Meeting these demands Stratasys
produces a variety of machines – starting
from small 3D printers that can afford even
small companies and up to high output
machines capable to make very large
parts, up to 600x500x600 mm. The FDM
line of rapid prototyping systems allows
designers to produce accurate, functional
prototypes for testing and final design
verification. These products can also be
used to produce tooling patterns and
masters for casting, RTV molds and
spray-metal.
According Stratasys report for 2004,
the production volume in comparison
with 2003 has increased by 58%. 3D
printer dimension production volume has
increased by 73%. This volume increase can
be explained by the fact that it has become
possible to create functional prototypes,
to choose the material and to produce
strong models for reasonable price,
taking wide range of modifications into
consideration.
3D printer Dimension™ is
a design tool for quick multiple iterations of
concepts early in the design cycle. This
system allows a designer to «print»
models directly from a workstation. It is
compact, simple in operation and service
and fits well to demands of small
enterprises.
Prodigy Plus™ combines
the ease, speed and simplicity of 3D printing with
the major benefit of part durability.
Prodigy allows designers to test form, fit,
and function with durable ABS parts
produced within a networked office
environment.
FDM Vantage™ –
It is the latest Stratasys machine (production started in
August, 2003) and has many functions;
its accuracy is typical for industrial
equipment while it refers to medium price
category. It also is well prepared for further
upgrades when required (for example,
expansion of the working zone).
FDM Titan™ is
one of the latest models, its production started in 2002. It
opens the new T-series in a range of
Stratasys machines which has better
technological performance, larger output
and a working zone, wider selection of
building materials.
FDM Maxum™ is
the largest and fastest prototyping system offered by
Stratasys, operating 50 percent faster
than previous systems. Its WaterWorks™
soluble support systems offer virtually
hands-free prototyping. New Insight™
software provides many powerful preprocessing
features.
Application Areas
Stratasys equipment for rapid
prototyping is actively used by world
industrial leaders in car, aviation,
medical, radio/electronic industry, by
producers of home appliances. They
help to reduce time to market giving a
leading edge in a competition. Those
leaders in their activity fields are Toyota,
Ford, Cummins-Allisson, Honda, Sony,
Panasonic, Hewlett Packard, Xerox, IBM,
Canon, Lexmark, Texas Instruments,
Bosch, Baxter, Lego, etc.
There are many Russian enterprises
that estimated the true worth of rapid
prototyping using Stratasys equipment:
Izhevsk Mechanical Plant, Scientific
Industrial Instrument Production
Association “ELARA”, Cheboksary,
Krasnogorsk plant, named after S. A.
Zverev, Production Association
TOCHMASH, Vladimir, Gorkovski
Automobile Plant, City of Novgorod,
Association LOMO, Sankt – Petersburg,
Central Design and Research of Sport
and Hunting Arms, City of Toula and other
enterprises.
RP equipment is applied in the
Engineering company “Industrial
Computer Technologies”, Nizhniy
Novgorod, Machine Building Plant
“Krasny Proletarij”, Moscow, Production
Plant “AVTOPRIBOR”, Vladimir, Design
Bureau “PELENG”, Minsk, JSC
“Energomera” Stavropol, JSC “ARTI”,
Moscow, “Umnie Mashini” company, Kiev,
“Arton” company, Moscow, Refrigerator
Plant “Birjusa”, Krasnoyarsk, JSC
“Sistema”, “Umirz Company”, Penza.
In order to evaluate quality of models
produced using Stratasys technology,
experts from SOLVER are ready to make for
you prototype sample, using your STL file. SOLVER offers
The company SOLVER is the official representative of
Stratasys in Russia. Our certified engineers will accomplish delivery,
installation, guarantee and postguarantee
service of Stratasys equipment together with customer specialists
training.
To estimate prototype quality SOLVER can build a test model taken from
your
STL file.
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