IPF Advocates Clear Benefits of Objet New 3D Printing Materials

RHEINMUENSTER, Germany, August 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

Objet GmbH, a subsidiary of Objet Ltd.,the innovation leader in 3D printing for rapid prototyping and additive manufacturing, announces today that IPF, a prototyping service bureau in the UK, has implemented both the Objet clear transparent and ABS-like materials, for use with Objet 3D printers, at its office in Nazeing, just north of London, to great effect.

"We're seeing great demand for the new Objet clear transparent (Objet VeroClear) material. We consumed a significant amount of the material during the beta testing just through word-of-mouth leads alone, and we've had substantial new business specifically on the strength of the transparent capability," states Gary Miller, Head of 3D Printing & Rapid Prototyping at IPF, "Objet has long been ahead of the game in terms of prototypes that truly represent the intended end-product, and the properties of the new materials can only strengthen that position."

Objet VeroClear is a truly transparent, rigid and near-colorless material featuring excellent dimensional stability for general purpose, fine detail model building and visual simulation of transparent thermoplastic such as PMMA.

"The clarity is superb," Miller comments, "The feedback from my customers is that it surpasses rival technologies such as Stereolithography (SLA), which has traditionally been requested for transparent applications. Printing in layers as fine as 16 micron layers - or even in high-speed 30 micron layers - with excellent print resolution, Objet printed models also have better surface finish, finer details and tighter tolerances."

According to Miller his customers opt for the transparent material for a diverse range of applications, "My customers are constantly breaking new ground with new products or improved parts. We are using the Objet transparent clear material for clients in the fields of architecture, automotive and consumer electronics, defense and medical. The applications range from waterflow systems, to clear screens, casing and housing for electronics, to testing lighting functionality, to using illumination to showcase design aesthetics and detail."

With regards to the Objet ABS-like material, Miller says that he has completed orders for customers from the food processing and automotive sectors, asserting: "I expect the ABS-like material to create significant new opportunities and growth from our customers within the automotive, consumer goods and F1 racing sectors. It could potentially be a business changer, which is why we were the first company in the UK to adopt it."

Designed to simulate ABS-grade engineering plastics by combining high-temperature resistances with extreme toughness, Objet ABS-like is a Digital Material^[TM] for use with Objet Connex multi-material 3D printers, the world's only range of rapid prototyping systems able to jet two materials at the same time. IPF's rapid prototyping department operates both an Objet Connex500 and an Objet Eden350V 3D printer.

"The Objet ABS-like material provides a seriously compelling alternative for replicating engineering plastics, where previously FDM plastic models were probably used," says Miller. "The same fit, form and function capabilities that Objet excels in are now available with the benefits of ABS-like - rigorous durability, high temperature resistance and excellent dimensional stability. We've also found that, because the material isn't porous, the finishing options are fantastic too."

Andy Middleton, General Manager for Europe at Objet comments, "IPF has always had a pioneering spirit when it comes to 3D printing. Making its first investment in an Objet system in 2003, Gary and the team have been beta testing machines and materials for Objet ever since and are repeatedly amongst the first to take up new technologies."

Resources for Editors

• Objet260 Connex and materials video
• Objet ABS-like materials video
• Objet Clear Transparency video
• Objet Desktop Workflow video

About Objet

Objet Ltd., the innovation leader in 3D printing for rapid prototyping and additive manufacturing, provides 3-dimensional printing systems that enable manufacturers and industrial designers to reduce cost of product development and dramatically shorten time-to-market of new products.

Objet's ultra-thin-layer, high-resolution 3-dimensional printing systems and materials utilize PolyJet polymer jetting technology, to print ultra-thin 16-micron layers. The Objet Connex multi-material family is based on Objet's PolyJet Matrix Technology, which jets multiple model materials simultaneously and creates composite Digital Materials on the fly. The market-proven Objet Eden line of 3D Printing Systems and the Objet24 and Objet30 desktop 3D printers are based on Objet's patented office-friendly PolyJet Technology. All Objet systems use Objet's FullCure® materials to create accurate, clean, smooth, and highly detailed 3D parts.

Objet systems are in use by customers worldwide, including Fortune 100 companies, in multiple industries such as automotive, architecture, dental, medical, medical devices, aerospace and defense, education, consumer goods and electronics, industrial machinery, toys, footwear and service bureaus.

Founded in 1998, Objet serves its growing global customer base through offices in USA, Mexico, Europe, Japan, China and Hong Kong, and a global network of distribution partners. Objet owns more than 50 patents and patent pending inventions. For more information, visit us at http://www.objet.com, and for more about 3D printing industry-related news, business issues and trends, read the Objet blog.

© 2011 Objet, Objet24, Objet30, Objet Studio, Quadra, QuadraTempo, FullCure, SHR, Eden, Eden250, Eden260, Eden260V, Eden330, Eden350, Eden350V, Eden500V, Job Manager, CADMatrix, Connex, Connex260, Connex350, Connex500, Alaris, Alaris30, PolyLog, TangoBlack, TangoGray, TangoPlus, TangoBlackPlus, VeroBlue, VeroClear, VeroWhite,  VeroWhitePlus, VeroBlack, VeroDent, VeroGray, Durus, Digital Materials, PolyJet, PolyJet Matrix, ABS-like and ObjetGreen are trademarks or registered trademarks of Objet Geometries Ltd. and may be registered in certain jurisdictions. All other trademarks belong to their respective owners.

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SOURCE Objet Ltd