NEW PRODUCTS

Rapid Prototyping Station DTM Corporation, Austin, TX, has released the Sinterstation 2500plus system for rapid prototyping and manufacturing that utilizes SLS® selective laser sintering technology to create 3D objects by using a CO2 laser to fuse plastic, metal, and ceramic powders. Features include a new laser and scanning system, redesigned delivery system, and improved thermal control of the process chamber and laser module. The station's Sinterstation System Software is Windows NT-based; the system also comes with Materialise NV's MagicsTM RP software that provides the ability to scale, rotate, offset, and slice STL files, as well as measure, edit, shell, and repair part files. The company's DuraForm Polyamide, DuraForm GF (glass-filled), Copper Polyamide, and RapidSteel® 2.0 materials can be used with the station. Top

3D Printer The Genisys 3D printer system from Stratasys, Eden Prairie, MN, is a desktop unit that produces solid 3D parts in a matter of a few minutes to several hours. It is designed for quick reproductions of concepts early in the design stage. The system can be used to print 3D prints when the need for 3D output is urgent, or to model the first few iterations of a concept. The system also can print multiple variations of a concept or design to aid in deciding which version to pursue. The single-material system allows the user to print models directly from a workstation. AutoGen software orients and scales the part, slices the data, and automatically builds parts with a simple point-and-click command. The system operates on Windows NT, Sun Microsystems, Hewlett-Packard, and Silicon Graphics workstations. Top

Reverse Engineering Software HighRES, La Jolla, CA, has introduced two 3D reverse engineering software products for FARO 6-axis portable digitizing measuring arms. HighRes Studio NT/Win 95 for FARO and Studio's plug-in option, Superspline for FARO, provide desktop software solutions for advanced manufacturing reverse engineering applications. The new interfaces work seamlessly with CADKEY and create 3D wireframe CAD drawings that translate as IGES 128 NURB surfaces, which import and export downstream into other manufacturing packages. Studio NT/Win 95 for FARO provides measurement, reverse engineering, and analysis in CAD format. The operator can fire the arm's probe in auto, semi-auto, cutplane, cutplanes point-to-plane, or point-to-axis modes. Superspline for FARO allows users to digitize by time or distance, and choose millimeters or inches as the measurement environment. Top

Optimization Software NC Optimizer software from Sirius Systems, San Jose, CA, reduces manufacturing cycle times by up to 50 percent or more, according to the company, maximizing machine tool utilization and increasing manufacturing productivity. The software analyzes depth of cut, width of cut, and material removal volume in APT-CL and NC G code programs. It then adjusts the program feed and speed rates to reduce machining time. NC Optimizer accepts stock material, tool material and type, machining operation, and machine operating parameters as inputs to calculate and manipulate part program feed and speed values. Top

Mold Design Software Moldmaker Version 3.1 mold design software from Matra Datavision, Andover, MA, is based on solids design technology from EUCLID. It enables rapid creation of molds, cavities, and tooling for the plastic injection process using predefined components from standard libraries or in-house designs. It can be used for both small and complex molds, and runs on Windows NT and UNIX platforms. The software includes a series of standard mold bases and catalog components, which are selected interactively and imported into the working session. The program includes a solid modeler, and provides automatic creation of 2D drawings. Top

Resins for Prototyping Systems SL 5220 and SL 5520 resins for use in rapid prototyping systems are available from 3D Systems, Valencia, CA. Cibatool SL 5520 resin, for use with the company's SLA-3500 and SLA-5000 rapid prototyping systems, was designed for snap-fit applications, providing form, fit, and functional testing of new products in development. The resin can make prototype parts and assemblies, and is low in viscosity. The SL 5220 resin, for use with the SLA-190 and SLA-250 systems, features low viscosity for applications where drainage of liquid resin is a concern. It resists moisture and is used to produce visual models, working prototypes, patterns for shell investment casting, and prototype tooling inserts. Top

Reverse Engineering System Romer, Carlsbad, CA, offers the Romer 1000 and 2000 series portable articulating arm coordinate measurement systems with a laser mini-cam probe that scans virtually all types of surfaces at a speed of about 7 lines per second. The probe, developed by Perceptron of Plymouth, MI, consists of a Class 2 laser, LED light array, and a sensing array. The probe attaches to the end of the Romer measuring arm, making it a portable data acquisition system that can be employed in the measurement and reverse engineering of a variety of products, including sheet metal panels, hydroformed components, plastic moldings, and other non-rigid 3D parts with complex contours. Top

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