Launched in November 2017, 3D Systems’ Figure 4 has promised to disrupt the polymer additive manufacturing market and potentially manufacturing on the whole. The system, based on a non-contact Digital Light Printing (DLP) technology, delivers the fastest AM throughout and time-to-part rates currently on the market, reaching part print speeds of up 65 mm/h and prototyping speeds of up to 100 mm/h.
In addition to its rapid print speeds, the Figure 4 boasts a modular and highly scalable configuration, enabling manufacturers to easily add printing units (called “engines”) to increase production capacity. The Figure 4 also includes automated post-processing and light-based UV curing stations, which allows for the technology to turn out dimensionally stable and finely textured finished products.
This fully-integrated approach to polymer AM has led 3D Systems to coin the term “digital molding,” which refers to the Figure 4’s capacity to transform a digital input file into a finished product in record time. By doing away with the need for costly tooling steps, Digital molding is being positioned as a viable alternative to traditional injection molding processes and has been shown to be faster and more cost-effective for mid-volume non-structural part manufacturing.
As industries such as dental, automotive, aerospace and electronics seek ways to bridge prototyping and production, 3D Systems’ Figure 4 offers a novel solution. According to 3D Systems, the Figure 4 is just the beginning of the digital molding impact, as it continues to evolve its technology and develop new, industrial-grade materials.
As an industry, additive manufacturing (AM) is seeking to disrupt industrial production practices that have been dominated by injection molding for over a century. Today, we are closer than ever to that reality: sophisticated 3D printing technologies are proving to be a viable means for fulfilling new manufacturing philosophies centered …
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It seems the excitement surrounding 3D Systems’ game-changing Figure 4 additive manufacturing technology has not been lost on the U.S. Air Force. In an announcement at RAPID+TCT yesterday, 3D Systems revealed that its Figure 4 Production system had been chosen for Air Force-sponsored research. The project, which will focus on …
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This week at RAPID + TCT 2018, 3D Systems is showcasing its portfolio of industry-leading solutions that are helping manufacturers move from prototyping to production and realize competitive advantages. One such platform designed for production is Figure 4 Production and Figure 4 Standalone – the fastest, most accurate 3D printing technology …
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Today, at LMT Lab Day Chicago 2018 3D Systems whose technology enables production of the largest number of orthodontic aligners in the world, unveiled the NextDent 5100 and 18 new NextDent resins — bringing the entire NextDent portfolio to 30 materials. These latest additions to the company’s renowned 3D digital dentistry …
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Although the company has been struggling in the stock market lately, 3D printing giant 3D Systems is certainly not giving up its leading role in the industry. In fact, the company is doubling up by introducing and announcing a series of new products and deals that are expected to significantly strengthen the …
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Delivering on its strategy to transform 3D manufacturing workflows, 3D Systems today announced the industry’s first modular, scalable and fully-integrated additive manufacturing platform. 3D Systems’ disruptive Figure 4 production platform produces plastic parts more than 50 times faster than current systems, delivering dramatically lower total cost of operations while offering …
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Leading 3D printer manufacturer 3D Systems acquired Vertex-Global Holding B.V., a provider of dental materials worldwide under the Vertex and NextDent brands. Together, 3D Systems’ groundbreaking Figure 4 platform and NextDent’s advanced 3D printing materials provide a strategic foothold in the multi-billion dollar digital dentistry opportunity. Vertex Dental and NextDent are …
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3D Systems showcased today how advancements in its digital manufacturing technologies can offer viable, enhanced alternatives to traditional manufacturing processes. By providing access to accelerated, cost-efficient means of production, 3D Systems provides its customers a competitive advantage in designing and manufacturing unique and low volume products. At formnext 2016, the …
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