3D Systems Announces the Availability of LaserForm A6 Steel for the SLS System.To download high-resolution, print-ready JPEG JPEG in full Joint Photographic Experts Group Standard computer file format for storing graphic images in a compressed form for general use. JPEG images are compressed using a mathematical algorithm. images, click on the thumbnail image above. WARNING: these images are very large (800K+) Click here for caption To download high-resolution, print-ready JPEG images, click on the thumbnail image above. WARNING: these images are very large (800K+) Click here for caption Business Editors/High-Tech Writers NOTE TO MEDIA: Multimedia assets available VALENCIA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 15, 2003 New steel tooling material developed to reduce tooling costs and speed up injection molding injection molding n. A manufacturing process for forming objects, as of plastic or metal, by heating the molding material to a fluid state and injecting it into a mold. cycle times 3D Systems Corp. (Nasdaq:TDSC TDSC Thai Development Support Committee TDSC Time Domain Signal Coding TDSC Test Driver System - Charlie TDSC Time-Domain Spreading Code ) announced the availability of its new product LaserForm(TM) A6 steel for the SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) See laser sintering and 3D printing. (R) (selective laser sintering See laser sintering and 3D printer. ) system. The LaserForm A6 steel product is the latest addition to the family of metals for use with the SLS system for rapid and low-cost manufacture of plastic injection molding tools, complex metal parts, prototype parts, and other applications such as die casting die casting Forming metal objects by injecting molten metal under pressure into dies or molds. An early and important use of the technique was in the Linotype machine (1884), but the mass-production automobile assembly line gave die casting its real impetus. tools and thermoforming tools. "With the introduction of LaserForm A6 steel, we are confident that we have achieved the development of a true production-ready steel product for our laser sintering Building prototypes and finished parts in a machine from powdered thermoplastics and metals that are cured by heat from a laser. From CAD drawings that have been cross sectioned into thousands of layers, the machine builds up the part by curing one layer at a time. system solution," said Chuck Hull, Chief Technology Officer for 3D Systems. "The LaserForm A6 steel product was designed to meet the needs of the highly competitive tooling market for injection molding of plastic parts. This industry requires a technology solution that enables higher productivity while drastically reducing costs," said Hull. "In order to successfully compete with conventional CNC (Computerized Numerical Control) See numerical control. CNC - Collaborative Networked Communication and EDM (Engineering Data Management) An information system that maintains the details of all engineering data while the product is in the design and concept phase. This includes geometry and changes to geometry. See PLM. EDM - Electronic Data Management in this market, the on demand manufacturing process (rapid tooling), must not only be faster, but must also substantially improve throughput of injection molding equipment while meeting rigorous requirements for accuracy, surface finish, detail and durability. Our new LaserForm A6 steel product offers excellent attributes for toolmaking The term toolmaking (sometimes styled as tool-making or tool making) may refer to:
LaserForm A6 steel product represents a new class of steel developed for our SLS system solution. This new product combined with a new process enables rapid layer fabrication fabrication (fab´rikā´sh  n),n the construction or making of a restoration. of high performance production injection molding tools and inserts, as well as durable, high strength steel parts for short run production. This results in finished tooling with up to 50% faster injection molding cycle times over conventional steel tooling, made possible by higher thermal conductivity and conformal con·for·mal adj. 1. Mathematics Designating or specifying a mapping of a surface or region upon another surface so that all angles between intersecting curves remain unchanged. 2. cooling. Several technical advancements were required to achieve this material breakthrough, including optimal use of tungsten carbide tungsten carbide n. An extremely hard, fine gray powder whose composition is WC, used in tools, dies, wear-resistant machine parts, and abrasives. for hardness and wear resistance, a new process for consistent part accuracy and a new binder system with outstanding green strength that enables the fabrication of fine detail, highly complex geometry In mathematics, complex geometry is the study of complex manifolds and functions of many complex variables. , as well as the conformal cooling channels. In addition to the advancements in material we are introducing a new high purity proprietary infiltrant for improved part surface finish straight out of the process and a completely new scanning technology for consistent run-to-run system performance, mechanical properties and accuracy of parts and tools. "The development of the LaserForm A6 steel product is a significant achievement which enables the tooling industry to design, develop and manufacture tools in a fraction of the time and cost required with more traditional methods," said Abe Reichental, CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. and president, 3D Systems. "We are excited about our ability to achieve tooling industry customer requirements at our initial customer installations and view tooling and parts manufacturing as an exciting key market for our expanding rapid prototyping and on demand manufacturing system solutions." The LaserForm A6 steel product has undergone rigorous use in the US including testing at Microplastics, Inc., St. Charles, IL. Microplastics serves the automotive, computer, appliance, telecommunications, medical, and electronics industries, making them an ideal beta site for the LaserForm A6 steel product. The facility houses a full-service tool room with advanced CNC and EDM capabilities. "In answering our customers' requirements for faster program development at reduced cost, Microplastics has invested in the SLS system and the LaserForm A6 steel product, allowing us to participate in the earliest stages of our customers' product development cycle by providing both direct functional Polyamide polyamide material used in the creation of nonabsorbable, synthetic, nylon sutures. plastic parts with our DuraForm material and rapid prototype tooling with our LaserForm A6 steel," Jim Spaniol, National Sales Manager for Microplastics Inc. "By working with the Microplastics team, we can assure our customers that their insert molded project will be developed with reduced cost in less time while providing team continuity from conception through production. With the development of the LaserForm A6 steel product we are able to dramatically cut lead times and reduce tooling costs. We now have the ability to compete with some of the global tooling challenges that we are faced with," continued Spaniol. The new LaserForm A6 steel product and the SLS system is ideal for designers, parts manufacturers and toolmakers to increase manufacturing efficiency and productivity by offering rapid, cost-effective low-volume manufacturing of end-use metal parts, and near net shape tools for injection molding and die casting. About 3D Systems Founded in 1986, 3D Systems(R), the solid imaging company(SM), provides solid imaging products and systems solutions that reduce the time and cost of designing products and facilitate direct and indirect manufacturing. Its systems utilize patented proprietary technologies to create physical objects from digital input that can be used in design communication, prototyping, and as functional end-use parts. 3D Systems offers a wide range of imaging, communication rapid prototyping and on demand manufacturing systems including the MJM MJM Multi-Jet Modeling (prototyping manufacturing) MJM Metropolitan Japanese Ministry MJM Married Jewish Male product line (InVision 3-D printer and ThermoJet(R) solid object printer), SLA (1) (StereoLithography Apparatus) See 3D printing. (2) (Service Level Agreement) A contract between the provider and the user that specifies the level of service expected during its term. (R) (stereolithography The first 3D printing technology, which was pioneered by Chuck Hull of 3D Systems. See 3D printing. ) systems, SLS(R) (selective laser sintering) systems, and Accura(R) materials (including photopolymers, metals, nylons, engineering plastics, and thermoplastics). More information on the company is available at www.3dsystems.com, or by phoning 888-337-9786, or 661-295-5600 ext. 2882 internationally, or email moreinfo@3dsystems.com. About Microplastics, Inc. Incorporated in 1989 by founder Mike Roberts, Microplastics has grown from a 1500 foot facility in Batavia, IL to their current 50,000 square foot "State of the Art" facility in St. Charles IL. Microplastics specializes in insert molding technology and with the recent addition of Selective Laser Sintering Microplastics exceeds the capabilities of their competition. Serving automotive, computer, appliance, telecommunications, medical and electronics customers, Microplastics offers a wealth of applications and experience. Switches, relays, lighting components, connectors, timers, sensors, filters and disc and tape drive components are among the many products we have manufactured in our dedicated insert molding facility. Microplastics ships product worldwide and maintains distribution centers in Singapore & Texas. Note to editors: ADM See add/drop multiplexer. (language) ADM - A picture query language, extension of Sequel2. ["An Image-Oriented Database System", Y. Takao et al, in Database Techniques for Pictorial Applications, A. Blaser ed, pp. 527-538]. and the solid imaging company are service marks; and InVision is a trademark; and ThermoJet, SLA, SLS, Accura, 3D Systems and the 3D logo are registered trademarks of 3D Systems Inc. The information contained in this press release includes "forward-looking statements." The company cautions readers not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those described in this release, for the reasons, among others, discussed in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements. Note: Photos available at URLs: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/photo.cgi?pw.101503/bb9 http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/photo.cgi?pw.101503/bb9a |
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