Objet 3D printers are known for being the only 3D printers in the world able to concurrently print with multiple materials in the same model, and the company with the largest number of available materials with which to print.
Yesterday, they announced that they now, in fact, have an incredible range of 107 different materials to choose from. And keep in mind that their high end Connex 3D printers can create a prototype that is made with up to 14 of those materials at a time. I’m not big on using exclamation points in my writing, but !!!!!!!
Along with their announcement, they created the video (above) that features a real Connex-printed classic car model that shows off the various materials. The model has interchangeable parts that Objet filled with a range of different material parts. They took a separate still photo of each configuration and pieced them together to create the animation.
The advantage of being able to use up to 14 different materials, out of a full set of 107 materials, is obvious to designers, engineers and manufacturers: they can precisely simulate the exact look of just about any complex, finished part. And with numerous opaque/transparent clarities, color shades, rigid/flexible properties, ABS-like toughness, high temperature resistance and more, they very likely can even simulate the feel and function.
The video highlights the following materials:
- Different transparent rigid shades simulating water-clear glass to black-tinted glass
- Different gray shades
- A number of different rubber-like Shore A grades (see how the car’s rubber-like soft top peel’s off)
- Different rubber-like colors and transparencies
- ABS-grade engineering plastic (green)
- High temperature resistant materials from white to various gray shades
- Polypropylene-like material (transluscent white)
Objet’s 107 materials can simulate properties ranging from varying grades of rubber to clear transparency, all they way to rigid, ABS-grade engineering plastics. This Materials Overview page on their site will lead you to more information on each one, and they are categories by Digital Materials ,ABS-like, High Temperature, Transparent, Rigid Opaque, Polypropylene-like, Rubber-like, Bio-Compatible, Hearing Aid Materials, Dental, and Cartridges. Numerous data sheets are available here.
10 Reasons Why Multi-Material 3D Printing is Better
Following yesterday’s announcement is today release of Objet’s free White Paper 10 Reasons Why Multi-Material 3D Printing is Better for your Product Design & Development. You’ll just need to fill out a form with you contact information and the PDF of the 12-page white paper will become readily available.
Here’s a sneak peek at the contents:
- Fabricate Composite ‘Digital Materials’
- A Recipe for Future Scalability
- Simulate Plastics with Engineering Properties
- Segregate Different Materials within One Consistent Model
- Segregate Different Material Models on the Same Print Tray
- Create Grayscales and Tones
- Simulate Opaque Shades with Clear Transparency
- More Efficient Short Series Injection Molding
- Combine Rigid Material with Rubber-like Over-Molding
- Combine High Temperature Material with Rubber-like Material
Source: Objet’s blog, It’s a 3D World
This is truly amazing. Just heard about it today! Wow!
That’s a really well designed model that hammers home the point that they’re capable of using many materials. It’s great that Objet can utilize 107 materials! The possibilites are endless and our capabilities with 3D printers are increasing.