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- Rapid prototyping solution in response to eyewear designers' need for a more efficient process, offering a unique combination of stiffness and flexibility, essential for eyewear makers' prototyping requirements
- Addition of Agilus30 rubber-like material and Digital ABS Plus engineering-grade material increases versatility of the Stratasys J750 full-color, multi-material 3D printing solution
HONG KONG, Sept. 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- From initial design concept to display on the store shelf, a new eyeglass-frame design takes about 18 months, using traditional development techniques, according to Stratasys eyewear customers. Large eyewear manufacturers may create up to 150 new frame designs weekly (or thousands of new frames per year). Imagine cutting up to 15 months from the development and production cycle of every frame and shrinking time-to-market to eight weeks or less.
That's what's possible, say pioneering companies that tested a new eyewear rapid prototyping solution introduced from Stratasys (Nasdaq:SSYS), a global leader in applied additive technology solutions. Stratasys developed the VeroFlex Rapid Prototyping Eyewear Solution to help manufacturers dramatically improve time-to-market and cost-efficiency.
The Stratasys VeroFlex Rapid Prototyping Eyewear Solution
The new solution combines Stratasys' unique J750 Multi-color, Multi-material 3D Printer with, VeroFlex, a new specially formulated 3D printing material for eyewear rapid prototyping needs. VeroFlex offers a unique combination of stiffness and flexibility, essential for a wide range of prototyping requirements. From initial concept iterations to complex multi-color and advanced texture models, to precise functional models for performance testing, VeroFlex offers a more durable and flexible material for demanding internal tests prior to tooling and production. This provides eyewear manufacturers the ability to deliver products over a year faster and lead with the latest market trends, while improving salability of its products.
"The eyewear market continues to expand, driven by new technologies, demand for customization and growing addressable markets," says Mike Vasquez, founder and CEO at the digital manufacturing consultancy, 3Degrees. "As the industry seeks to maximize its opportunity, Stratasys' prototyping solutions for frames and eyewear accessories -- which can cut time-to-market by upwards of 80 percent -- will be an attractive solution that is able to deliver immediate value for users looking to make parts with a high degree of mechanical function and appearance."
For functional performance testing, the Stratasys VeroFlex material stands up to key eyewear-maker evaluation, including drop tests, lens-mounting, stress tests and wearability tests. When used for design verification, the Stratasys VeroFlex material offers ultimate realism enabled by combining six new VeroFlex materials (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, White, Black, and Clear), and the ability to create and mix solid, opaque, transparent and color shades in addition to simulating true-to-life textures such as wood grains, leather, stitching, bone, carbon-fiber, and photo-realistic images.
For more information, visit the Stratasys VeroFlex Rapid Prototyping Eyewear Solution webpage.
Photos for the Stratasys VeroFlex Rapid Prototyping Eyewear Solution are available in the Stratasys newsroom.
Expanding Multi-material Functionality and Versatility for Advanced Rapid Prototyping and Tooling Applications on the Stratasys J750
Stratasys also announced today new material compatibility for its flagship J750 full color, multi-material 3D printing solution, delivering additional functionality and versatility for rapid prototyping and tooling applications. The PolyJet Agilus30 rubber-like material and Digital ABS Plus engineering-grade material can now be used with the Stratasys J750, expanding the range of applications that designers and manufacturers can 3D print.
A durable, flexible PolyJet photopolymer material (Shore A 30), Agilus30 features enhanced tear resistance. Models produced with Agilus30 can stand up to repeated flexing and bending, with features that accurately simulate the look, feel and function of seals, gaskets, living hinges, soft-touch parts, over molds and other flexible parts and rubber-like elements.
"We are using the new Agilus30 rubber-like material on our Stratasys J750 3D printing solution to simulate the installation and performance of rubber-like parts in our high performance vehicles and support equipment," said Neil Oately, Head of Design and Development, McLaren Racing. "The superior tear resistance of the Agilus30 enables us to include highly flexible articulated interconnections within unit construction rigid mountings which we could not do previously."
The newly available material on the Stratasys J750, Digital ABS Plus, enables users to build strong functional prototypes, manufacturing tools, molds (including injection molds), snap-fit parts for high- or low-temperature use, electrical parts, and product casings among others. It simulates a range of durable production plastics, including standard ABS, with an enhanced toughness and Izod Notched Impact (90 - 115J/m, 1.69 - 2.15 ft lb/inch).
Stratasys (NASDAQ: SSYS) is a global leader in applied additive technology solutions for industries including Aerospace, Automotive, Healthcare, Consumer Products and Education. For nearly 30 years, a deep and ongoing focus on customers' business requirements has fueled purposeful innovations -- 1,200 granted and pending additive technology patents to date -- that create new value across product lifecycle processes, from design prototypes to manufacturing tools and final production parts. The Stratasys 3D printing ecosystem of solutions and expertise -- advanced materials; software with voxel level control; precise, repeatable and reliable FDM and PolyJet 3D printers; application-based expert services; on-demand parts and industry-defining partnerships -- works to ensure seamless integration into each customer's evolving workflow. Fulfilling the real-world potential of additive, Stratasys delivers breakthrough industry-specific applications that accelerate business processes, optimize value chains and drive business performance improvements for thousands of future-ready leaders around the world.
Corporate Headquarters: Minneapolis, Minnesota and Rehovot, Israel.
Online at: www.stratasys.com, http://blog.stratasys.com and LinkedIn.
Stratasys is a registered trademark and PolyJet, J750, VeroFlex Rapid Prototyping Eyewear Solution and the Stratasys signet are trademarks of Stratasys Ltd. and or its subsidiaries or affiliates. All other trademarks belong to their respective owners.
Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
The statements in this press release relating to Stratasys' beliefs regarding the benefits consumers will experience from the VeroFlex Rapid Prototyping Eyewear Solution are forward-looking statements reflecting management's current expectations and beliefs. These forward-looking statements are based on current information that is, by its nature, subject to rapid and even abrupt change. Due to risks and uncertainties associated with Stratasys' business, actual results could differ materially from those projected or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the risk that consumers will not perceive the benefits of the VeroFlex Rapid Prototyping Eyewear Solution to be the same as Stratasys does; and other risk factors set forth under the caption "Risk Factors" in Stratasys' most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on March 9, 2017. Stratasys is under no obligation (and expressly disclaims any obligation) to update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by the rules and regulations of the SEC
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