3D printer and materials manufacturer Photocentric has unveiled a new desktop LCD 3D printer yet, the LC Opus.
Slated for global launch at the International Dental Show in Cologne later this month, the LC Opus is a desktop 3D printer suited to a wide variety of applications ranging from dental models and hairdryers to turbines. The machine is the ninth system manufactured by Photocentric and replaces the firm’s LC Dental 3D printer.
Delivered pre-calibrated, the LC Opus is based on Photocentric’s LCD 3D printing technology and is designed to deliver fast, accurate, and reliable prints straight out of the box.
“We wanted to build a versatile printer that was easy to use and delivered great performance and I believe that we have achieved this,” said Sally Tipping, Sales Director at Photocentric. “It provides customers with a speedy, simple and versatile solution that is equally at home in a dental laboratory as it is an engineering workshop. Its intuitive and simple operation makes LC Opus perfect for both beginners and experienced users alike across a broad range of applications.
“With its fast cure speed, low running costs and impressive build volume, LC Opus is an excellent all-rounder.”
Photocentric’s LCD printing technology
Photocentric is known as a producer of photopolymer resins and for its LCD 3D printing technology.
The company’s LCD printers use an array of LCDs that shine directly onto the build area and cure an entire layer at once, rather than a single point. This makes the technology a quicker alternative to other methods, and with the LCD screen only letting in light where it is to be cured for the finished part, the method simplifies the printing process and removes the need for other materials, such as mirrors or galvanometers.
Photocentric’s first foray into the printer manufacturing market was initiated in 2015 with the launch of its Liquid Crystal desktop 3D printer. Since then, the company has introduced its LC Maximus system, designed for mass production and large-scale prototyping, and its LC Magna printer capable of delivering small-batch, on-demand, and full production 3D printed end-use parts.
The LC Opus
Marketed by Photocentric as its most rapid LCD printer to date, the LC Opus is equipped with a build volume of 310 x 174 x 220 mm and a custom monochrome screen. The machine features an even light distribution to deliver a repeatable, uniform cure and is capable of achieving curing speeds of two seconds per layer at 50µm thickness, depending on the resin used.
As such, the printer facilitates a high volume of parts to be printed quickly, accurately, and consistently. In harmony with the LC Opus’ build volume, Photocentric’s patented Peel Release ‘Vat-Lift’ technology allows the printing of large surface areas reliably and with ease, making the printer suitable for beginners and experienced users alike.
Meanwhile, ultra-quiet PWM fans provide quiet, efficient cooling for the machine’s LED array, enabling it to run at high temperatures for sustained periods of time, and Trinamic motor drivers ensure smooth and quiet operation.
The LC Opus will be delivered to customers pre-calibrated, enabling them to print straight out of the box. This ‘plug and play’ offering is complemented with Photocentric’s STUDIO software, which is supported with regular performance and service upgrades. The machine features simplified homing and an innovative new vat design, including a self-cleaning mode.
The LC Opus is compatible with Photocentric’s own range of dedicated UV 3D printer resins, which are designed specifically for the printer to enable a wide range of 3D printing applications, including both prototyping and production. Customers can also pair their LC Opus with Photocentric’s wash and cure offerings in order to achieve an optimum finish for their 3D printed parts.
Technical specifications and pricing
According to Photocentric, the LC Opus has broken all pre-order records for its previous models, and production of the machines is currently underway. The printer will be produced at the firm’s Peterborough headquarters in the UK, with models due to be shipped from September 2021.
The LC Opus is priced at £6,295, and Photocentric currently offering an exclusive launch promotion, more details of which can be found here. full technical specifications for the LC Opus are as follows:
| Build volume | 310 x 174 x 220 mm |
| Print layer thickness | 25, 50, and 100 µm. Layer thickness of >100µm dependent on resin properties |
| Print speed | 18 mm per hour |
| Cure speed | 2 seconds per layer at 50µm |
| Light output intensity – LCD screen | 5mW/cm² |
| LCD screen | 14″ monochrome 4k LCD screen. |
| Resolution | XY resolution of 81µm provides scanned data accuracy of ≥95% at <100µm and ≥70% at <50 µm |
| Light output wavelength | 410 nm |
| Software | Photocentric STUDIO |
| Minimum system requirements | Operating system Windows 7, 8 or 10 Minimum 2.0 GHz processor speed 2 cores – recommended 4 cores GPU capable of OpenGL version 3.0 or higher NET framework version 4.0 64bit system: recommended 4GB 32bit system: recommended 2GB |
| Connectivity | WiFi, ethernet, USB 3.0 for fast file transfer |
| Weight | 38 kg |
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Featured image shows the LC Opus desktop 3D printer. Photo via Photocentric.
