Stratasys Announces Update for Its T-Class Rapid Prototyping System
Rapid prototyping system maker,
Stratasys, announced an update and an upgrade that increase feature detail and
surface-finish smoothness for its T-Class rapid prototyping systems, the FDM
Titan and FDM Vantage, which model with high performance thermoplastic, stated a
company spokesperson.
An update for the company's FDM Titan improves the quality of its model-resolution setting, known as '5 mil' or 0.005 inch (0. 127 mm). The 5-mil feature is available for use with ABS plastic modeling material. The update brings the modeling resolution into a similar quality range as the company's FDM Maxum system. The feature is also available as an upgrade for FDM Vantage system users wishing to increase modeling resolution with ABS plastic. It represents a 50 percent increase over the previous ABS modeling resolution of 0.010 inch (0.25 mm), explained the spokesperson. The improvement means Vantage users can build models features as fine as 0.020 inch (0.508 mm) on a functional prototype. The high-resolution setting will be standard on new Titan and Vantage systems.
"The 5-mil resolution setting was made available for the Titan 18 months ago," says FDM product manager Patrick Robb. "Although it worked fine in many applications, its performance wasn't as consistent as it could have been. Through a focused effort by R&D, it has been greatly improved. With this update, Titan users selecting the 5-mil resolution will get the feature detail they expect from Stratasys. And since the high-res setting is now available for the first time on the Vantage, users of that system will also benefit."
Stratasys also has made available for both T-Class machines a '7-mil' or 0.007 inch (0. 18mm) setting for ABS modeling material. In the past, the 7-mil setting was available on these machines only for use with polycarbonate modeling material.
Existing FDM Titan owners with maintenance contracts will receive the 5-mil update at no charge. Titan or Vantage users wishing to upgrade their systems should contact Stratasys for details.
The Stratasys FDM Vantage and FDM Titan, are built on the company's T-Class platform, which allows the use of high-temperature, high-performance engineering thermoplastics. Stratasys FDM systems require no special facilities or venting and involve no nuisance, dangerous, or hazardous materials or byproducts, stated the spokesperson. Because FDM rapid prototyping systems use thermoplastics such as ABS, PC, and sulfones, they are becoming recognized for their ability to rapid manufacture end products, both for short production runs and custom products.
For more information contact:
Stratasys Inc.
14950 Martin Drive
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
888-480-3548
Fax: 952-937-0070
E-mail: info@stratasys.com