Stratasys Introduces FDM Vantage Rapid Prototyping System
Stratasys recently introduced a new
rapid prototyping system - the FDM Vantageª. The FDM Vantage was designed to
allow future upgrades to a larger modeling chamber, more material bays, and new
modeling materials when developed, extending its life span.
The FDM Vantage is built on what the company calls its T-Class high-performance platform. This platform allows the use of high-temperature, high-performance engineering thermoplastics. The T-Class platform was commercialized in 2001 with the company's FDM Titanª. "The introduction of the FDM Vantage brings this proven technology to a mid-priced system at the center of our product line," says FDM product manager, Patrick Robb. "And the ability to upgrade helps protect the user's investment."
The system comes standard with two thermoplastic modeling materials: ABS and Polycarbonate. Both are widely used in manufacturers' end-products - an advantage for the design engineer. Both materials are durable, stable, and will not warp, shrink, or absorb moisture, enabling high accuracy. Polycarbonate offers high tensile strength and flex strength, a hardness exceeding ABS, a high heat-distortion temperature, superior dimensional stability, and durability sufficient for rapid manufacturing applications.
The FDM Vantage is quiet and safe enough for an office environment. It requires no special facilities or venting and involves no hazardous materials or by-products. It comes standard with the company's WaterWorksª water-soluble supports for ABS modeling, which lets users dissolve model-support material rather than remove them by hand. It has model-chamber dimensions of 14 x 10 x 10 in. (355.6 x 254 x 254 mm). User selectable model-layer thickness settings for polycarbonate are 0.007 in. (0.178 mm) and 0.010 in. (0.254 mm). ABS layer thickness is 0.010 in. (0.254 mm). The machine will begin shipping in August, 2003.
For more information contact:
Toni Brown
Stratasys Corp.
14950 Martin Drive
Eden Prairie, MN 55344-2020
952-937-3000
Toll Free: 888-480-3548
Fax: 952-937-0070
E-mail: info@stratasys.com