Rapid Tooling
Stereolithography now accessible to medical device developers
The medical device sector has to date not adopted stereolithography (SL) as a prototyping tool in any significant way on account of the unavailability of suitable materials. That’s about to change, according to SL resin supplier DSM Somos (Elgin, IL).
Big on 3D printing
The ProJet 5000 large-format printer from 3D Systems Inc. (Rock Hill, SC) reportedly offers the largest build area of any photopolymer-based printing system (a 21.65-by-15.5-by-11.8-inch envelope). A wide range of photopolymer-based materials can be deployed with the printer for fabricating rugged functional prototype parts, while 100% Realwax patterns can also be generated for investment casting.
