Full Disclosure, there was an open bar and cheese & fruit stand in the Stratasys announcement room, so I’m already a fan. Then of course I’m a huge fan of 3D printing and am fully of the belief that it is not only the future, but is currently revolutionizing the present. With that in mind I was VERY excited to hear of the new enhancements on the Object 500 Connex3.
The marketing mattering touts this printer as “The most versatile 3D printer, delivering unparalleled color product realism”. Certainly these types of announcements are rife with hyperbole and yet they are right. Printing parts in varying materials and hardnesses is new territory for a single machine. More information for the Connex 3 capabilities is available on the Stratasys site.
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| Connex 3 sample table at the Stratasys Press Event. |
One machine can nearly instantly create a full color product that is made up of materials with differing hardnesses. The product possibilities keep getting broader.
- Ergonomic safety glasses, lens and all, printed specifically for a user.
- Action figures with a duplicate of your own face and flexible limbs.
- A bike helmet customized for a rider and fully capable of protecting their head.
No word on the overall costs of this machine but continuing advancements like this is a clear sign that Stratasys is con tuning to invest in R&D. This has to be good for their investors (read more about why 3D Printing companies are so valuable)