I’m always impressed with Axtra3D’s prints, and even more so after a visit with them recently.
The company produces a hybrid 3D printing system using a process they call “HPS”. HPS is a resin-based 3D printing process that uses both laser and DLP projection. The idea is to complete the layer quickly by blasting the interior portions with the DLP all at once, while also ensuring a very smooth edge with the laser doing the perimeters.
HPS is also very fast. That’s because they don’t use the standard “print and peel” layer approach used by almost all resin 3D printers. That process takes considerable time, and can be the majority of activity during a job. Instead, HPS simply slides the build plate sideways to very quickly release the layer. A simple, but highly effective solution to the layer change problem.
The company has been making arrangements with a variety of third-party producers of high-quality resin, and parts made with them have been shown to the public.
At the top, you can see a highly flexible material that was easily produced using HPS.
This is a turbine part, produced using Loctite 3D 3843 material. According to Axtra3D, this part can be produced for only US$3.60 in less than 16 minutes.
This housing was made using Ultracur3D 3280 from BASF Forward AM. The 85g part was made in under two hours at a cost of US$14.37 each. I was particularly impressed by the incredibly smooth surface on this part, which apparently is straight out of the machine.
This was perhaps the most impressive part I examined during our visit. It’s a stent 3D printed using HPS, and as you can see, it’s pretty delicate.
But there’s more — it’s incredibly flexible! I was quite astonished that HPS was able to successfully 3D print this delicate and flexible part, something that would be extremely challenging on other resin systems.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: materials are the key to success in 3D printing. The right material must be used for the job, or there’s no job.
Via Axtra3D
