3D Systems’ Figure 4 Scalable 3D Printing Platform Shipped to Fortune 50 Company, Focus on Dental
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 competitive and compelling comparisons to conventional methods.
Based on its revolutionary Figure 4 technology, 3D Systems’ new platform allows customers to tailor configurations and select materials to address specific applications. Configurations range from single-print engine machines to fully automated, high-volume production
systems with 16 or more print engines, automated material delivery and integrated post-processing.
The company recently shipped the first system to a Fortune 50 industrial customer, and plans to ramp customer-specific shipments throughout the second half of 2017. 3D Systems’ Figure 4 fully automated, high-volume 16-print engine production solution.
“We believe our breakthrough Figure 4 platform will revolutionize manufacturing by transforming production of both mass customized and complex end use parts with a compelling total cost of operations versus conventional methods. While others are realizing the need to transition from prototyping to production, we are delivering real solutions across all key vertical markets and applications that are helping customers solve problems today.” Vyomesh Joshi (VJ), President and CEO, 3D Systems.
- Fewer printers with better throughput result in lower investment and higher material utilization.
- Cost per Figure 4 produced parts approximately 30% of traditional SLA.
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Illustrative Example – Figure 4 vs. Traditional SLA* |
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Figure 4 Production Configuration with 16 Print Engines |
Improvement |
|
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Printers Required |
225 x |
Fewer |
|
Annual Throughput Per Printer (prints) |
225 x |
Higher |
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Facility Floor Space (sq ft) |
26 x |
Lower |
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Printer Upkeep Labor |
45 x |
Lower |
|
Labor Cost |
4x |
Lower |
|
Initial Investment |
23 x |
Lower |
|
TCO – 5 Years, Full Fleet |
3.5 x |
Lower |
|
Part (1 million units per year) |
Improvement |
|
|
Cost Per Part (in dollars) |
71% |
Lower |
|
Average Print Time Per Part (in hours) |
14.1 x |
Faster |
|
Material Waste (in grams) |
1.5 x |
Lower |
Focus on Dental
The company expects the new platform will be able to achieve improvements of up to 10 times in total cost of operations, along with significantly reduced fabrication times and far less material waste. 3D Systems has deep domain expertise in the dental market, including many years of leadership in the aligner category, and is well-positioned to lead the next evolution of the dental industry. This is a direct result of the company’s multi-year development efforts of the Figure 4 printer technology, combined with the acquisition of NextDent’s portfolio of 12 clinically effective materials with regulatory approvals in over 70 countries.
“Traditional milling machines only mill one crown at a time, making the process slow, ineffective and costly,” said Vyomesh Joshi (VJ), President and CEO, 3D Systems. “Today’s announcement is game changing. Our system can print 20 – 30 crowns in fewer than 15 minutes, which is the same time it takes most milling solutions to produce just one single crown.” Vyomesh Joshi.
3D Systems will offer a modular printer platform that can enable smaller labs to cost- effectively produce thousands of crowns or other dental products per year, while providing fully automated solutions for larger labs producing more than 1 million crowns or other dental indications per year. The company plans to begin shipping in the fall of 2017.
