Arcam

Arcam provides a unique Additive Manufacturing technology for production of fully dense metal parts. In the EBM process fully dense metal parts are built up layer-by-layer of metal powder melted by a powerful electron beam. Each layer is melted to the exact geometry defined by the 3D CAD model. The Electron Beam Melting technology allows for high energy to be used providing high melting capacity and high productivity. Parts are built in vacuum at elevated temperatures resulting in stress-relieved parts with material properties better than cast and comparable to wrought material.For each layer of powder the electron beam first scans the powder bed to maintain a certain elevated temperature, specific for different alloys. Thereafter the electron beam melts the contours of the part and finally the bulk. The Arcam A1 is the ultimate solution for Additive Manufacturing within the Orthopedic implant industry. It is specifically designed to offer maximum design freedom and high productivity for custom and standard implants in titanium and cobalt chrome alloys. The Arcam A2 is the ultimate solution for Additive Manufacturing for the Aerospace and Defense industries. It is specifically designed for manufacturing of large complex metal parts from a range of different materials. Arcam was founded in 1997 and is listed on the Nordic Growth Market in Stockholm, Sweden. Arcam today has about 70 installations throughout the world. The systems are predominantly used in aerospace and implant applications.

CADBLU

CadBlu was created to provide partial and complete solutions in the area of Computer Aided Design (CAD), Scanning Technologies, additive and subtractive processes (RP & CAM) of model generation from digital data, and software and materials to allow turnkey solutions. Cadblu develops solutions through partnerships with technology manufacturer's and various software developers as well as in-house research and development staff. Solutions range from a complete turnkey solution to partial solutions whereby clients can join the digital age with minimal investment. Full in-house facilities to support our client base. Cadblu continues to develop solutions for specific applications as well as customized solutions.

Dimension

Dimension is a brand of 3D printers by Stratasys that offers CAD (computer-aided-design) users a low-cost, networked alternative for printing functional 3D models from the desktop. The printers build models layer-by-layer using ABS plastic, one of the most widely used thermoplastics in today's injection-molded products. Stratasys invented its patented FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) technology in 1988 and has led the development of 3D printing technology ever since. Stratasys uses its FDM technology in both its Dimension 3D Printers, as well as its Fortus 3D Production Systems, developed for direct digital manufacturing and precision rapid prototyping. The company also operates Redeye On Demand, a digital manufacturing service. Stratasys holds more than 180 granted or pending additive fabrication patents globally. Stratasys products are used in the aerospace, defense, automotive, medical, business & industrial equipment, education, architecture, and consumer-products markets.
View the chart comparing BST 1200es, SST 1200es, and Elite 3D printers.

EnvisionTec

The company produces the Perfactory® system which uses photopolymers and deformable mirror devices (DMD’s) for layerwise imaging. This machine is based on hypodermic dispensing of a curing material into a liquid medium. EnvisionTEC has been highly successful in producing the most reliable Rapid Prototyping system in the world using its core based technology of selective light modulation which is currently being utilized in its DLP® based systems. The simplicity of the technology has made the system very popular in Rapid Manufacturing markets such as the Hearing Aid market where envisionTEC enjoys more than 60% of the world market as well as more than 50% of the Jewelry market in the number of units produced on it’s Perfactory® systems. The Perfactory® system works like a copy station. It builds solid 3D objects by using the DLP® projector to project voxel data into liquid resin, which then causes the resin to cure from liquid to solid.  Each voxel dataset made up of tiny voxels (volumetric pixels), with dimensions as small as 16μm x 16 μm x 15 μm in X, Y and Z direction. It’s like building your part from very small building blocks with different volumes.  With the Perfactory® system you can choose the balance between feature resolution and build speed.  Dynamic voxel thickness gives you control over Z build thicknesses from 15 µm to 150 µm and the projector optics give you control over X and Y resolution from 16 µm to 69 µm. They also produce the Bioplotter™, a system to build 3D scaffolds for tissue engineering applications.

EOS

EOS is the world leader in laser sintering. Laser-sintering is an additive layer manufacturing technology and the key technology for e-Manufacturing. It enables the fast, flexible and cost-effective production of products, patterns or tools directly from electronic data. The process accelerated product development and optimizes production processes. The customers come from diverse industries such as automotive, aerospace, medical, tooling and consumer goods industries.

EX One

The ExOne Company is dedicated to the development and implementation of advanced material systems and manufacturing processes. Three-dimensional printing and laser micromachining became the core technologies for The Ex One Company, which currently supplies services, systems and solutions for manufacturing in the digital age, including three-dimensional printing in sand, metal and glass, and laser micromachining.


ExOne offers Additive Manufacturing in sand, metal and glass and micromachining with short-pulse lasers. Additive manufacturing uses three dimensional printing (3DP) to transform engineering design files directly into fully functional objects in sand, metal and glass. Large, complex molds and cores for sand casting applications are formed layer by layer, enabling geometries not previously possible to manufacture. Full-form parts in metal and glass are made directly from computer aided design (CAD) data for a variety of industrial, commercial, and art applications. Orion short- pulse laser micromaching technology is used to machine small features for critical automotive and aerospace applications.
The ProMetal division of ExOne Co. provides both rapid tooling and low volume components fabricated directly in steel. The company is a licensee of the 3DP process from MIT. The ProMetal RCT (Rapid Casting Technology) Division is developing the S15 system for large sand casting and core applications. The system works in a manner similar to the MIT Three Dimensional Printing process, but creates patterns up to 59 x 29 x 29 inches, weighing up to several tons. The technology was developed and initially commercialized by Generis GmbH.

Fab@Home

The Fab@Home Project is an open-source mass-collaboration developing personal fabrication technology aimed at bringing personal fabrication to your home. Members include those who use their abilities to develop novel hardware, software and uses for digital fabricators and those who simply use it to make unique items. The Community includes hundreds of engineers, inventors, artists, students, and hobbyists across six continents.
An open-source project to design, develop and manufacture an inexpensive syringe-based additive fabrication machine and related software. Buying all of the parts for a Model 1 currently costs about $2400. The Model Two is expected to costs approximately $1,600. A variety of materials can be used for building, from silicone to chocolate. The project is led from Cornell University, but there are participants from all over the world. The Fab@Home is unique because it is a comparatively inexpensive, three-dimensional printer that can use a large array of materials make static and dynamic objects.
It contrasts with other, low-cost three-dimensional printers such as the RepRap (and Makerbot) in three key ways. First, the RepRap is oriented toward self-replication, making its own parts, while Fab@Home is aiming toward printing static and dynamic objects¬. Secondly, the Fab@Home uses a syringe tool that allows you to use a wider variety of materials. Thirdly, Fab@Home is largely a snap-and-screw-together kit, while others tent to require more technical skill to build. Hod Lipson and Evan Malone of the Cornell University Computational Synthesis Laboratory began Fab@Home project in 2006. Within one year, the Fab@Home website received 17,000,000 hits and the project received a Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Award.

Nikon Metrology

Expanding towards 3D Metrology: With the acquisition of Metris in 2009, Nikon enlarged its portfolio with optical 3D measuring instruments. The new division "Nikon Metrology" today offers the broadest range of metrology solutions for applications ranging from miniature electronics to the largest aircrafts. Nikon Metrology’s innovative measuring and precision instruments contribute to a high performance design-through-manufacturing process that allows manufacturers to deliver premium quality products in a shorter time. The following products lines are now available in the portfolio:
CMMs / Portable arms / Optical CMM : Nikon Metrology provides best-in-class precision equipment and metrology solutions for use on CMMs and articulated arms CMMs. Optical CMMs are portable, handheld coordinate measuring machines, with a proven track record in engineering, preproduction and quality control applications.
Laser scanning: Next-generation digital LC and XC laser scanners confirm market leadership for CMM-based laser inspection, offering full surface and feature measurement.
Digital ModelMaker 3D scanners are ideally suited for use on articulated measuring arms, serving a variety of inspection and reverse engineering applications.
The HN-6060 multi-sensor 3D metrology system provides fast, high-precision, non-contact inspection of complex shapes with tactile accuracy.
X-ray and Computed Tomography: The X-ray and CT inspection systems provide detailed insight into the internal structure of parts. Typically used for inspection of loaded PCBs, compact castings and plastics, these imaging systems facilitate the detection of connectivity failures, material defects and assembly issues.
Vision systems: CNC video measuring systems from Nikon Metrology’s cover precision optical and digital imaging systems for inspection and non-contact surface inspection, reconciling high precision with maximum productivity.
Microscopes / optical inspection systems: Measuring microscopes focus on industrial measuring and image analysis, designed for complete digital control for maximum measuring accuracy. Industrial microscopes (stereo, upright, inverted) serve a wide range of visual inspection application. Recently added to the microscopes portfolio is the portable ShuttlePix offering users to simply grab the instrument and take images and measurements anywhere needed. Rugged optical comparators are built to provide bright crisp images of an incredible range of specimens, whereas autocollimators provide exceptional measuring accuracy and reliability in demanding measurements, such as flatness or height by simple geometry.
Large scale measuring / positioning: The Laser Radar is a top large-scale metrology solution available to the manufacturing industry, performing fully automated, non-contact measurement and inspection up to 60 meters. The iGPS is a modular, large-volume tracking system used in manufacturing and assembly, enabling factory-wide localization of multiple objects with metrology accuracy.

Objet

Objet Ltd., is a leading provider of high quality, cost effective inkjet-based 3D printing systems and materials. A global company, Objet has offices in North America, Europe, Japan, China, Hong Kong, and India. Objet’s 3D printing systems and 3D printing materials are ideal for any company involved in the manufacture or design of physical products using 3D software or other 3D content. Companies using Objet’s solutions can be typically found in sectors such as consumer goods & electronics, aerospace & defense, automotive, education, dental, medical and medical devices, architecture, industrial machinery, footwear, sporting goods, toys and service bureaus. Objet’s advanced 3D printing systems and range of over 60 materials enable professionals to build prototypes that accurately simulate the true look, feel and function of an end-product, even complex, assembled goods. The Objet Connex™ line of multi-material 3D printers features the world’s only technology to simultaneously jet 2 materials. With this, users can print many different materials into a single part and print various mixed parts on the same build tray. Users can also create advanced composite materials, or Digital Materials™ featuring unique mechanical and thermal properties. Objet’s range of over 60 3D printing materials simulate properties ranging from rigid to rubber-like, transparent to opaque and standard to ABS-grade engineering plastics, with a large number of in-between shore grades and shades.Objet’s 3D printers are available in a range of form-factors, from cost-effective desktop 3D printers ideal for entry-level professionals all the way to industrial-scale multi-material machines for front-line designers and top manufacturers. Objet’s 3D printers feature the industry’s highest-resolution 3D printing quality, based on 16-micron (0.0006 in.) super-thin layering, wide material versatility, office friendliness and ease of operation. Objet Offers the PolyJet™ process based on depositing photopolymer with a wide area inkjet head. Curing is layer by layer using UV exposure. Undercuts and overhangs are supported by a second, wash-away photopolymer. The company is also the first to introduce machines that can deposit two materials simultaneously.

Optomec

Aerosol Jet systems are used in both research and production for applications ranging from ink development to fabrication of next generation electronic devices. Aerosol Jet solutions are being integrated for use in next generation production lines including display, 3D printed electronics, alternative energy, and life sciences.
Aerosol Jet Lab systems are ideally suited to develop next generation processes and devices for photovoltaic, touch screen displays, 3D interconnects and other printed electronics and biologics applications.
The Aerosol Jet Print Engine is ideally suited for rapid integration into industrial automation platforms for high performance material deposition applications. Multi-nozzle head configurations can be designed to meet specific end user application and throughput requirements. The Aerosol Jet Print Engine includes deposition hardware, software interface, process control, and ink refill systems required to implement a complete production material deposition system. Optomec Aerosol Jet experts are available to assist in the integration and tuning of the system to meet end user requirements.
LENS 3D printers are ideally suited to fabricate, enhance and repair high performance metal components used in Aerospace, Defense, Power Generation, and Medical device manufacturing industries. The LENS process cost-effectively builds 3-dimensional structures with excellent material properties from a wide range of metals, including titanium, stainless steel, nickel, cobalt and other engineering alloys. A number of LENS 3D printer configurations are available to meet your specific application requirements. Click here for more information on LENS Applications or to access data sheets on LENS Systems.
LENS systems are used to fabricate, enhance, and repair high-performance metal components in state-of-the-art materials such as titanium, stainless steel, and Inconel®. LENS is ideal for materials research, medical device fabrication and repair, hybrid manufacturing and rapid product development and functional prototyping.
Commercialization of the Laser Engineered Net Shaping process™ (LENS®) developed at Sandia. LENS® and Laser Enginered Net Shaping™ are registered trademarks of Sandia National Labs. and Sandia Corp. The company’s tradename for the technology is the Direct Metal Deposition System™ (DMDSTM).