Mar 20, 2017
3D Systems today unveiled its Figure 4 additive manufacturing platform, based on the company’s Figure 4 technology and NextDent materials. The Figure 4 production platform is scalable and modular, ranging from single-print engine machines to fully automated, high-volume production systems with 16 or more print engines. According to the company, the system produces plastic parts more than 50 times faster than current systems.
3D Systems said in its press release that it "recently shipped the first system to a Fortune 50 industrial customer, and plans to ramp customer-specific shipments throughout the second half of 2017."
“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,” said Vyomesh Joshi (VJ), President and CEO, 3D Systems. “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.”
3D Systems 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.
One of the first markets that 3D Systems is targeting with their new system is dentistry. 3D Systems is already in the dental market, and has many years of leadership in the aligner category. In January 2017, the company acquired Vertex-Global Holding B.V., a provider of dental materials worldwide under the Vertex and NextDent brands. 3D Systems expects that the Figure 4 system could expand their impact in the dental industry.
“Traditional milling machines only mill one crown at a time, making the process slow, ineffective and costly,” said Joshi. “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.”
3D Systems will offer a modular 3D 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.
Posted in 3D Printer Company
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