John Burn Ltd, based in the UK’s manufacturing heartlands, and a reseller of a growing number of industrial and entry-level 3D printers has added the innovative BluePrinter 3D printing technology to its portfolio. Earlier this year John Burn opened its Birmingham based 3D print studio, housing the full range of 3D printers offered by the company. This was a strategic decision to allow clients and interested parties to get hands-on with the technology and see it up close and the studio has proved to be a great asset.
Now, as the official reseller in the UK and Ireland for the BluePrinter, John Burn views this as an exciting opportunity to showcase and introduce clients to one of the newest 3D printing processes to emerge in the last eight years. As 3D printing has exploded onto the prosumer scene and seen increased uptake across industry, there have been many new players introduce new 3D printers to the market, but they have typically been based on similar technologies. In contrast to this trend, the BluePrinter’s Selective Heat Sintering (SHS™) technology is different and, as a result, offers users a distinct advantage when it comes to a low cost and robust alternative to the traditionally expensive laser sintering (LS) process, which is often beyond the reach of smaller companies.
John Burn has now taken delivery of its first BluePrinter, which incidentally, is now white, at their studio and plan to demonstrate the technology to a UK audience at the The TCT Show in September at the Birmingham NEC.
Gilles Coulombeau, Chairman, John Burn Ltd, commented: “We are delighted to have signed this agreement with BluePrinter APS to promote and support the sale of their products in the UK and Ireland. We see their innovative SHS technology as fulfilling the demand for cost-effective 3D-printed parts covering the whole form-fit-function range.”
For anyone that wants to know more about the proprietary SHS™ technology, which is similar to laser sintering but differs from LS technology in that it uses a thermal print head as opposed to a laser. The thermal print head applies heat on layers of thermoplastic powder in the build chamber, thus making the forming of any complex geometry possible. SHS™ 3D printing is therefore an economic alternative for the creation of inexpensive prototypes for concept evaluation, fit/form and functional testing, as well as of complex geometries with moving parts. The technology is highly efficient, for example multiple 3D models can be created, several 3D models can be loaded and printed at the same time, and printing solid models can be performed within a short space of time. Moreover, there is no need for support material or post-curing of models.
SHS and Printer Features
- SHS™ technology uses a thermal print head as opposed to a laser in SLS machines
- The thermal print head applies heat on layers of thermoplastic powder in the build chamber
- Free forming of any complex geometry (minimum wall thickness is 1 mm)
- Load and print several 3D models
- 100 per cent web-based interface (work with Windows, Mac and Linux)
- Removal of excess powder can take place inside the printer or in a separately powder removal station (accessory).
Specifications
- Build chamber (mm): 160 x 200 x 140 (W x L x H)
- Printing speed: 5-7 mm/hour
- Layer thickness: 0.1 mm
- File formats: STL
- Printer dimensions (cm): 100 x 60 x 60 (W x L x H).
Materials
- Thermoplastic powder optimised to work with SHS Technology
- Monochrome white
- Unused powder is 100 per cent recyclable
No need for additional support materials – models being built are supported by the powder in the build chamber.
