3D printer manufacturer Stratasys has announced a whole slew of new products for its hardware and software portfolio.
As well as launching two new PolyJet 3D printers – the J35 Pro and the J55 Prime – the company will also begin offering two new software programs designed specifically for research and product package prototyping applications. The J35 Pro is Stratasys’ first multi-material 3D printer built for the desktop, while the J55 Prime, based on the previously launched J55, offers several new material compatibilities.
“We’re in the business of helping designers and engineers translate whatever they can imagine into reality,” said Shamir Shoham, VP of Design at Stratasys. “Through the versatility of multi-material PolyJet 3D printing, our customers can create models and packaging prototypes not only quickly and efficiently, but with remarkable realism that stands out against other 3D printing technology.”
The J35 Pro
The J35 Pro brings multi-material PolyJet 3D printing to the desktop for the very first time. Characterized by its notably compact frame, the system is suitable for everything from high-fidelity decorative pieces to functional engineering prototypes. According to Stratasys, the J35 Pro is built for the office setting, enabling users to combine up to three different materials in a single build.
“We find that we spend a great deal of time creating and testing models,” said Yaniv Adir, Project Manager for manufacturing firm Taga Innovations. “If a customer had changes or if it didn’t work as expected, we would have to go through the process over again. By bringing the J35 Pro into our office, we can now create the models and prototypes in-house in a day.”
The J35 Pro is available to order now, with shipments expected to commence in September 2021.
The J55 Prime
Similarly, the J55 Prime is described as an office-friendly multi-material 3D printer, featuring all of the capabilities of the company’s J55 system and more. As well as facilitating full-color 3D printing, the J55 Prime now works with new materials that enable ‘tactile, textual, and sensory’ applications.
The non-exhaustive list of suitable materials includes Elastico Clear and Black for flexible and soft rubber-like models; Digital ABS Ivory for high-impact molds, jigs, and fixtures; and VeroContactClear for translucent, body-contacting medical devices and wearables. The system also works with the opaque VeroUltra range for precise 2D graphics and texts.
The J55 Prime is available to order now, with shipments expected to begin in July 2021.
Package prototyping and 3D printing research
The first of the new software launched by Stratasys is a packaging design program available through the company’s GrabCAD Print slicer. Compatible with the J8 Prime, J7 Series, and J55 Prime 3D printers, the software will enable designers to 3D print full-color product packaging prototypes with textures, transparency, and flexibility. This includes simulated glass bottles as well as labels with legible text and 2D images.
Jeremy Garrard, Director of Market Development, Design and R&D for packaging provider Quadpack, adds, “Ultra-realistic models make the idea real for our clients, enabling an accelerated decision making process. We are a long way from the bland all-white models we produced prior to 3D printing – today the possibilities are endless.”
Finally, the PolyJet Research Package, set to be released in September 2021, is aimed at academics seeking greater control over their PolyJet 3D printing processes. The software enables users to embed objects, voids, and liquids into their prints, as well as experiment with 4D printing geometries to ‘accelerate innovation in the lab’.
When combined with GrabCAD Voxel Print, the Research Package also allows data to be defined volumetrically in each voxel in a 3D model, granting improved control at the microscopic level. Applications include modified part resolutions, tuned color placements, and variations in shore values across parts.
The quadruple announcement is just the latest in a long line of recent Stratasys releases. Earlier this month, the company launched its new, full-color J5 MediJet 3D printer. Designed specifically for medical applications such as patient-specific anatomical models, surgical guides and medical tooling, the PolyJet system is compatible with a whole host of sterilizable and biocompatible 3D printing resins.
Back in April, Stratasys also introduced three new 3D printers designed to produce end-use parts – the Origin One, the H350, and F770 FDM. The systems, which incorporate the company’s FDM, P3, and selective absorption fusion (SAF) 3D printing technologies, are all geared towards accelerating the shift from conventional to additive manufacturing.
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Featured image shows the Stratasys J35 Pro. Photo via Stratasys.
