Solidscape S500 3D printer launches for faster prototyping and investment casting
Solidscape, the Stratasys-owned leading producer of high precision 3D wax printers, is taking precision investment casting and rapid prototyping of complex geometries to the next level with the launch of the S500 high precision 3D printer. The Solidscape S500 and relative materials, which were introduced earlier this year at the Design Engineering & Manufacturing Solutions Expo in Tokyo, Japan, The new printer and materials are available for immediate purchase
Designed to produce ultra-accurate, directly castable wax patterns, the S500 high precision 3D printer along with new castable material, Midas, and dissolvable support material, Melt-I, dramatically shortens production time and can eliminate the need for expensive tooling.
The S500 is ideal for industrial casting manufacturers who produce high precision complex parts where dimensional accuracy and superior external and internal surface finishes are critical. By significantly streamlining both front- and back-end processes, the S500 is designed to make the printing of directly castable parts and the creation of custom molds from wax patterns repeatable and scalable.
The growing global demand we see for manufacturers to develop more short production runs of precision parts requires tools that can help them iterate design cycles quickly. The new S500 high precision 3D printer and materials offer industrial companies the ability to create accurate, complex, precise wax patterns that can be directly cast in most metals and alloys, or used to create silicone or master molds eliminating the need for expensive custom tooling.Fabio Esposito, President, Solidscape.
The Solidscape S500’s new Solidjet Technology builds a support structure of solid wax, allowing for organic shapes with undercuts, overhangs, thin walls and interlocking parts, and producing high-integrity castings with superior interior and exterior surface finish.
“As a premier supplier of complete-to-print, high-volume, complex thin-wall investment castings and fully-finished casting-based subassemblies and components to automotive, aerospace, and other industries, we are always inventing improved methods for casting or automating the shop floor,” said Scott Biederman, Vice President of Technology, Hitchiner Manufacturing Co., Inc., of Milford, NH. “We were very impressed with the high level of detail of the patterns printed using the new Solidscape S500, in addition to the outstanding overall service experience we have enjoyed working with Solidscape.”
Along with the printer, new materials seamlessly integrate into existing manufacturing and casting processes, avoiding the need for special burn-out schedules and equipment. Midas provides a clean burnout with no thermal expansion and is ideal for metal casting, including stainless steel, nickel and various alloys. Melt-I, the non-toxic, hand-free dissolvable support reduces stress points on shapes with thin walls and delicate details, enabling manufacturers to produce parts with intricate or complex geometries with confidence.
