Sep 27 2007
3D Systems Corporation, a leading provider of 3-D Modeling, Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing solutions, announced today that its new, tough and durable Accura® Xtreme Plastic for Stereolithography systems performed well during its initial limited market launch and beta testing with lead users.
3D Systems’ beta testing partners have experienced exceptional results, including outstanding toughness and durability from Accura® Xtreme Plastic. With the look and feel of a durable molded plastic, this material offers an impact strength of nearly 1 ft-lb/in. This impact strength, combined with an elongation at break of up to 22 percent, make Accura® Xtreme Plastic one of the most durable Stereolithography materials available today.
Other features of this revolutionary material include its low viscosity, resulting in easy operation and fast part creation, and its quick cleaning and finishing with less waste, making it a more cost-effective solution. In addition, Accura® Xtreme Plastic offers modest thermal and moisture resistance that enables parts made from it to be used without rapid deterioration, unlike competitive products in this performance class.
Accura® Xtreme Plastic is designed for functional assemblies that demand durability. Due to its high elongation, impact resistance and moderate modulus, Accura® Xtreme Plastic is ideally suited for many Rapid Prototyping and Rapid Manufacturing applications.
Models and prototypes produced with Accura® Xtreme Plastic are now available from two of 3D Systems’ preferred service providers, Tangible Express and Scicon Technologies. 3D Systems expects to complete launching Accura® Xtreme Plastic to all of its customers and preferred service providers during the fourth quarter.
“We are excited to participate in the Accura® Xtreme Plastic initial marketplace testing and evaluation and are very impressed by its performance,” said Scott Turner, president of Scicon Technologies Corp. “In the course of this evaluation we had the opportunity to build and supply a significant volume of pre-production parts and bridge manufacturing parts for very demanding applications. We could not have fulfilled these requirements with any other Stereolithography material. Toughness, accuracy, speed and minimal post processing positions Accura® Xtreme Plastic at the top of my list for durable functional and production parts.”
“Having such a wonderful response to a new product during its initial limited rollout demonstrates that 3D Systems’ research and development efforts are on target,” said Abe Reichental, 3D Systems’ president and chief executive officer. “With Accura® Xtreme Plastic, we have created a new benchmark for material toughness.”
On Wednesday, 3D Systems’ Steve Hanna, director, Stereolithography Materials, is including information on Accura® Xtreme Plastic in his presentation, “Master Your SLA® Plastics,” at the 3D Systems World Conference, and a complete datasheet will be available at www.3dsystems.com/pro on Wednesday.