Rapid prototyping was a game-changing innovation for industrial designers when it was introduced two decades ago. Previously, prototypes would be constructed from wood or metal in woodwork or
machine shops. The process took weeks or months and the cost was often so prohibitive that designers skipped prototypes entirely and went directly from CAD to tooling. Often this meant that design flaws were not identified until manufacturing began, leading to expensive re-work and lost time.

Leading manufacturers apply PolyJet-based rapid prototyping systems in their design and manufacturing processes. By solving engineering problems as early as possible in the development stage, companies save costs and progress more swiftly from concept to finished product.

The numerous benefits of 3D printing and rapid prototyping have been well‐recognized for years. Whether its design validation, functional testing or faster launch of new products – top management seldom needs to be convinced of the benefits. Yet most businesses still outsource 3D modeling, with the most prevalent claim being financial – “our prototyping volume does not justify an expensive in‐house 3D printer.”

Overmolding is a process that delivers significant advantages in a product’s performance and its commercial appeal. But this capability introduces considerations, challenges and obstacles not faced when performing conventional injection molding. To protect an investment in overmolding production and to produce a desirable product, the part designer, molder and tool manufacturer should convene early in the process to devise a marketable and manufacturable design. 

Objet’s family of 3D printing systems brings high-resolution rapid prototyping (RP) solutions to casting environments. Objet’s patented 3D printing systems, which work with Objet materials and Objet software, provide a complete 3-dimensional printing solution for virtually any sand casting application.  

Rapid tooling (RT) techniques create parts from end-use production materials and run quantities up to production volumes. RT can shorten time to market while reducing tooling costs.  

This whitepaper provides an evaluation of how Objet PolyJet Technology fits within a vacuum forming applications framework. The PolyJet Technology, specifically the introduction of the process technology, is expected to revolutionize vacuum-forming production and to bring with it additional benefits including, labor-cost savings, a shortening of product development time and new design developments.

Jewelry designers use Objet’s 3-dimensional printing systems as they offer high resolution printing and utilize materials that fit the requirements of this application niche. Objet’s flagship line of Eden™ 3-dimensional printing systems offers unprecedented return on investment (ROI) for professional rapid prototyping applications. Printing with the high accuracy of ultra-thin 16μ layers, all Eden systems produce models with exceptionally fine details and smooth surfaces.

Digital Materials™—the latest major development
in 3D printing—make it possible to build models
from a wide range of composite materials. This
development allows the printing of models, and
even specific parts of models, with physical and
mechanical properties previously unobtainable with
3D printing systems. This paper details some of the
implementations of this technology in industry, and
its implications.

Along with speed, accuracy and repeatability, 3D printing provides the massive advantage of producing realistic representations that can be properly tested and checked for design faults early on in the design cycle. Once a design fault is identified in the model, designers and engineers can simply tweak the design on the CAD/CAM program and print and test again, as many times as they like, until the design is perfected and meets their precise visualization and verification requirements.

The Objet Connex™ family is the first 3D printing system that jets multiple model materials simultaneously. It offers the completely unique ability to print parts and assemblies made of multiple model materials, with different mechanical or physical properties, all in a single build. Objet Connex™ 3D printers can also fabricate Digital Materials™ on the fly, enabling users to create composite materials that have preset combinations of mechanical properties.

Objet Digital Materials™ make it possible to fabricate
models and prototypes from a wide range of composite materials.

This development enables the printing of models,
and even specific parts of models, with physical
and mechanical properties previously unobtainable
with 3D printing systems. This paper explores the
potential impact of advanced 3D technology on
education, training and research.

The use of 3D-printing modeling enables accurate contouring of plates prior to surgery. Furthermore, this technology can be utilized during the second stage of reconstruction, in which a template is created for the harvesting of a bone implant.

This paper is an evaluation of how Objet Technology fits within a medical applications framework. The advantages of using additive fabrication technology in medical applications have long been evident. However, to date the number of machines sold for medical use has been limited. This may change in the future as companies address some of the issues discussed in this paper. In addition, this paper explains how Objet technology is at the forefront of certain medical applications.

This whitepaper describes the different sterilization methods and technologies available in today’s medical equipment sterilization market, that are relevant to rapid prototype models. Focus is given to the more common sterilization methods used or available for medical equipment in hospitals and clinics. At the end of this paper, a conclusion and table summarize six common sterilization methods. These methods/products were isolated and ranked based on their sterilization efficacy and applicability to medical instruments and rapid prototype models.