Did you know that the Swiss Army Knife was invented over 120 years ago? However, regardless of its age, it is still a success today, a century after its creator, Karl Esener, combined many useful functions into a single tool. What is the secret to its long-term success? It follows several timeless principles that are characteristic of most long-lasting products:
The same principles that make the Swiss Army Knife a steadfast, reliable tool are also the foundation of the Stratasys F900 3D printer , which customers refer to as a true FDM “workhorse.” While the latter is a bit more sophisticated than the former, the results they achieve are the same: reliable service and proven performance, while also allowing for continued innovation.
Make no mistake, the F900 is a significant investment for any business. At the same time, this machine represents the pinnacle of sophistication and capability in industrial FDM additive manufacturing. This is probably one of the main reasons why manufacturers are eager to adopt it – the F900 has the tools to get the job done, whether it’s the capacity to print large-scale parts, the materials needed to produce spacecraft parts, or anything in between – all with the proven accuracy and reliability that users expect.
Plyform, an Italian aerospace composites manufacturer, is using 3D printing to create tooling for composite parts because it is cheaper and more time-efficient than traditional metal tooling. The Stratasys F900’s large build volume is designed to accommodate the parts that aerospace companies want to print, and ULTEM™ 1010 resin, a high-performance thermoplastic in the F900, provides the material properties needed to produce 3D printed molds.
“Of all the additive manufacturing technologies we have tested, the Stratasys F900 offers the best accuracy and repeatability,” says Luca Ceriani, Plyform’s manufacturing technology manager.
Another aircraft manufacturer, British BAE Systems, is also benefiting from the F900’s capacity and versatile material offering. The company uses its F900s for a variety of applications, producing aerospace models, design verification prototypes, production line tools and end-use parts 24/7.
“We installed our latest Stratasys F900 3D printer towards the end of last year, primarily to increase our capacity through the wider use of FDM technology, but the ongoing material developments also give us a significant advantage in tooling applications,” says Greg Flanagan, head of additive manufacturing at BAE Systems.
These are just two examples of the more than 1,000 F900 installations where customers have improved their production processes with the help of capacity, wide range of raw materials, reliability and repeatability.
Just as the Swiss Army Knife has adapted to modern use, the F900 has received new features to keep up with the needs of manufacturers.
The two new printheads offer higher extrusion speeds to reduce part build time, especially for larger prints. The T40A and T40C tips print ULTEM™ 9085 resinand FDM® Nylon 12CF material. The dual printheads allow for faster part build times, enabling faster production speeds. Print speeds vary by geometry, but some large Nylon 12CF parts can see an increase of up to 40%. Although the step-up surface formation may be slightly more pronounced depending on the shape of the part, this is not an issue if surface resolution is secondary to the priority of faster part production.
In terms of materials, F900 users can now benefit from Validated Materials. Stratasys Validated Materials are thermoplastics that have been developed by a third party and meet Stratasys quality standards, and have been validated through fundamental reliability tests on Stratasys FDM printers. This new material category broadens the F900’s material portfolio, enabling faster introduction of new materials that open up new applications. For example, Kimya PC-FR: this fire-resistant polycarbonate meets the smoke and fire protection standards of the railway industry, making it the perfect material for low-volume applications such as replacing obsolete parts.
The Stratasys F900 the FDM technologywithembodies itself countlessthat has over thein the hands of proven customers . But years changing the needshorizon. themore of its users. The new T40 tips and Validated Materials, including colored ULTEM™ 9085 resins, are just two recent additions, but there are more useful developments on
For businesses that require reliable industrial additive manufacturing capabilities, the Stratasys F900 should be on the list of systems to consider.
To learn more about the capabilities and value of the F900, visit the F900 3D printer website!
You can also access a wealth of additional information, including downloading the Stratasys White Paper on Validating FDM Repeatability and Performance!
Radford Motors produces small-scale, customized cars. Additive manufacturing is part of the company's recipe for success. They chose large-format 3D printers from Stratasys.
The Stratasys F900 3D printer is constantly expanding with new features and capabilities, offering added value to meet the changing needs of users
Stratasys Announces Four New Materials for the P3™ DLP Platform and Two New Materials and New Colors for the Stratasys F900 3D Printer
