DEVELOP3D - Technology for the product lifecycle

Z Corporation has just launched the latest product in its range. While the traditional products include 3D scanning devices as well as its now legendary Z Printer products, this sees a departure from that historical product line with the ZBuilder Ultra.

Based on technology licensed from Envisiontec (in fact, it’s pretty much the Envisiontec Ultra... with a badge), the new printer doesn’t rely on the same powder+binder formula that exitsing Z Corp products centre on, but instead uses a mix of photo curable polymer, a technology called Digital Light Processing (DLP) - again wrapped up in a layer-based process. Essentially for those unfamiliar with Envisiontec’s machines, these use UV light to cure layers of photopolymer (as do many rapid prototyping techniques). The difference here is that the system uses DLP to “project” the UV light onto each layer - DLP is a Texas Instruments technology predominately used in standard projector products.

The resolution possible with this combination, added into a machine that can be build with incredibly thin layers (between 0.05mm and 0.2mm), gives models that are not only robust, but also require very little in the way of finishing - as the step-stepping effect evident with many RP techniques, is to all intents and purposes, removed.
If you want the tech specs, the machine is capable of building features as small as 0.2mm at layer thicknesses upwards of 0.05mm in a build envelope of around the 260 x 160 x 190 mm mark. What’s also interesting is that because (as this and several other technologies, such as 3D Systems’ V Flash do) this system “exposes” a single layer in a single flash of the UV light, rather than tracing contours then filling in (such as is evident with laser-based systems such as SLA and laser sintering), then the parts are built in a much quicker time - with Z Corp quoting around the 1/2 inch per hour.

I had a quick chat with Z Corp about the product’s launch last week and it’s clear that the team has a vision for where it’s heading with the ZBuilder alongside its existing and very well established ZPrinter product line. This new addition (found on the web-site under Prototyping Machines rather than 3D Printers) compliments the ZPrinter, powder based products.

While I’ve not had my usual set of test builds back from the system yet, having been working with the guys at Envisiontec for many years, the process is proven, highly accurate, capable of reproducing some phenomenal fine detail, and while Z Corp is only offering a single material (SD100 - claimed to be equivalent to ABS), there is huge potential for new materials.

One question that might remain is what of Envisiontec? The answer is that the Perfactory and other products in its range, while impressive and certainly applicable to a wider market, have found a perfectly acceptable and workable niche in industries such as jewelery and medical. With Z Corporation’s mind share amongst the mainstream design and engineering market, combined with its extensive and successful sales channel, this new addition is going to go places.

Oh - and how much is it? $34,900 is the magic number.