Print: moving along the Z axis

A few days ago, HP entered into an agreement to supply Stratasys 3D printers under our brand. Through our well-established global sales channels, we will supply devices similar to the Dimension line - the most successful three-dimensional printers today, which were the first to become available even to small businesses and placed on the desktop.

Despite the fact that the first industrial devices for layer-by-layer printing of three-dimensional objects appeared as early as 1986 , even today they seem to be a living fantasy. To see how a virtual object in your eyes takes on real forms, color and weight without any of your efforts - this sight leaves very few people indifferent!

But 3D printers very quickly find more and more applications. The main one, of course, is modeling. Architecture, aircraft construction, automobile industry - engineers and industrial designers are ready to give a lot to speed up the process of prototyping.

Today, Stratasys Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) technology allows you to create not only plastic mockups, but also completely workable parts that can be used as part of the finished product. For example, US-renowned TV presenter Jay Leno used Stratasys' printer to make the missing parts for several vintage cars from his collection: watch the video here .
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ABSplus plastic, which serves as a consumable for Dimension printers, allows you to drill, sharpen, polish, paint and even chrome.

By the way, here you can order a sample of a part made in a Dimension printer for free .

During 2010, HP plans to launch shipments of new products to the UK, Germany, Spain, Italy and France. In these countries today there is the most active demand for various applications of 3D printing technology. Although the price of printers from the Stratasys Dimension range starts at $ 14,900, HP does not yet indicate how much they will cost under our brand. All details will be communicated along with the start of deliveries in each country.

Stratasys technology allows you to print parts directly from popular engineering programs (for example, SolidWorks). It also works excellently in conjunction with 3D scanning systems. For example, with devices of NextEngine company is also the leader of its segment.

You can watch a video with real examples of using printers here .

Now I can easily imagine what effect such a printer would have had if it stood in the classrooms of my Faculty of Applied Mechanics at MAI. What a pity I graduated so early :)

But it's great that we have a chance to be present when such devices become massive.