Stratasys releasing new medical 3D printer and SAF PP material at Rapid+TCT

3D printing giant Stratasys will be unveiling two new products at the upcoming Rapid + TCT event in Los Angeles next week: the J5 Digital Anatomy 3D printer, developed specifically for printing high-fidelity anatomical models to support surgical planning and more; and SAF PP, a new polypropylene-based powder material for the Stratasys H350 system based on the company’s selective absorption fusion (SAF) technology.

SAF PP powder

The new material, SAF PP, was developed in collaboration with BASF Forward AM and is set to become commercially available in Q4 2024. The powder material is compatible with Stratasys’ H350 platform, which was first introduced in 2021 and was recently upgraded with HighDef printing. SAF PP will reportedly offer H350 users a number of benefits, including superior aesthetic quality and a lower cost per part thanks to better nesting properties.

The material is also characterized by good durability, chemical resistance, water and air tightness and flexibility, all of which make it suitable for applications in automotive, healthcare, consumer sports and more. Stratasys highlights a number of specific applications for the upcoming PP-based material, including automotive housings and ducting, shin guards, orthotic devices, tight pipes and sensor mounts.

“With superior nesting ability and a total turnaround time of less than 36 hours, SAF PP allows customers to produce hundreds of parts in a single build,” commented Neil Hopkinson, Vice President of Additive Manufacturing Technology at Stratasys. “This boosts productivity and cost efficiency, delivering high-quality parts at a lower cost.” The material has also been lauded by early beta adopters for its exceptional surface quality and ability to print intricate designs.

J5 Digital Anatomy 3D printer

Rapid + TCT visitors will also get the chance to see Stratasys’ latest 3D printer for the healthcare market, the J5 Digital Anatomy solution, capable of printing high-fidelity anatomical models. The new 3D printer, which has an office-friendly footprint and a user-friendly interface, will make it easier and more accessible for medical institutions to print patient-specific models for surgical planning and patient communication.

The new system expands Stratasys’ existing healthcare portfolio, which also comprises the J5 MediJet and J850 Digital Anatomy printers. These systems, as well as the new J5 Digital Anatomy machine, are capable of printing multi-color and multi-material models that mimic the density and software of tissue and bone so that healthcare professionals can prepare for surgeries with models that offer realistic haptic feedback and are patient specific.

Notably, the new medical 3D printer comes with a lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), which will make the ability to print realistic patient-specific anatomical models more accessible. “The J5 Digital Anatomy printer is designed to be user-friendly and facility-friendly, making advanced anatomical modeling accessible to a broader range of medical institutions,” commented Erez Ben Zvi, VP Medical at Stratasys. The new machine will officially be unveiled on June 25 at 2:30 pm PST at Rapid + TCT. Printed parts made from SAF PP will also be on display at Stratasys’ booth.