Objective3D | BLOG

Check out Extra Minutes, additional footage from the 60 Minutes story on 3D Printing where Ray Martin takes a tour of the RedEye Facility in North America (our parent company) and talks with the Grand-Father of Additive Manufacturing, Jeff Hanson to Discuss 3D Printing and The Factory of the Future.

FDM Nylon 12 , a new nylon material with the specs to be the toughest in additive manufacturing was released by Stratasys yesterday at EuroMold 2013. FDM Nylon 12 is suited to Fortus Production systems and Objective 3D were fortunate to be at EuroMold to get the scoop on this revolutionary new FDM material. Designed to optimize strength and toughness while reducing the residual stresses and warp that have prevented semi-crystalline material use in the past, FDM Nylon 12 offers several key improvements over any other 3D printed nylon.  It out performs on toughness and mechanical properties, exhibiting 100% improvement in elongation at break and also offers superior fatigue and chemical resistance. FDM Nylon 12 is also the first FDM material that can be annealed, improving the temperature and mechanical properties of 3D printed parts. Black rotary cap cover created in FDM Nylon 12 material on the Fortus 3D Production System All this presents compelling opportuni...

Will.i.am shares his view on 3D printing.  Will.i.am says"Get Ready for a whole new world". Subscribe to the Objective 3D YouTube channel now to keep up to date with this amazing technology! 

A new version of digital ABS is available now from Objective3D . Suitable for Objet Connex printers, ABS2 has all the properties of the original Digital ABS photopolymer, with superior rigidity and toughness in thin walls to 1mm.  Best of all, it is now available in Ivory! Watch the video below to see Sam Green and Zehavit Reisin of the Stratasys Materials Business Group showcase the various merits of the latest Digital ABS material options .   Digital ABS (fabricated inside the 3D printer from RGD515 and RGD535) is designed to simulate standard ABS plastics by combining high-temperature resistance with toughness. Digital ABS2 delivers those properties plus superior rigidity and toughness in walls thinner than 1.2 mm (.047 in.). Both materials are suitable for parts that require PolyJet technology’s highest possible impact resistance and shock absorption. Digital ABS and Digital ABS2 are ideal for: Functional prototypes Molds Snap-fit parts for high o...

Heart surgeons and Mechanical Engineers at the Children's National Pediatric Institute for Surgical Innovation recently 3D Printed a polyjet version of a patient's heart using a Connex 500. The patient suffered stenosis, or narrowing of the passage between two heart chambers, and the 3D printed heart was able to help surgeons accurately evaluate which kind and size of stent should be fitted and also the best access path for the procedure. Laura Olivieri, a Pediatric Cardiologist said, "There is still so much we need to learn about this new technology. Right now it is going from feasible to usable." Watch the video below and make sure you Subscribe to our YouTube Channel to stay up to date with new videos as they are released.

RedEye On Demand VP Jim Bartle spoke to Design News at the Manufacturing of the Future Summit at Stratasys Ltd to discuss how 3D printers can create parts of virtually any geometry. Interestingly, he also mentioned that engineers need a solid grasp of the technology to make the most of 3D printing technology.   At RedEye Australasia and Objective3D we help engineers and designers to take full advantage of the myriad benefits and cost savings that 3D printing has to offer. Speak to one of our engineers today to discuss your project requirements, to print a 3D part or to talk about how a 3D printer could fit in at your workplace.   Read the full article via the link above or see how Jim explains the 3D process by watching the clip below. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to stay up to date with our latest uploads.

Rebecca Judd wore a 3D Printed fascinator to this year's Melbourne Cup, and it was proudly 3D printed by RedEye Australasia at their build centre in Melbourne. Designed by Danica Erard (@demillinery) and drawn as a 3D CAD file by Jeese Leeworthy, the fascinator took on 12 hours to build! Manufactured using Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), the fascinator is made is nylon, so it is very strong yet flexible, allowing motion and movement in the headpiece. Painted to suit Rebecca's Tony Maticevski dress, Australia is finally beginning to embrace the many wonderful uses of 3D printing technologies, and the experts who print a wide array of fabulous items everyday! To discuss your next project, call RedEye Australasia on 1300 559 454. Looking for your own 3D Printer? Speak to Objective3D about your printing requirements.

Objective 3D and RapidPro Merge Good News! Objective 3D and RapidPro are merging which means a greater range of services, expertise and discounts to existing clients.  From November 6 Objective 3D will offer part sales and finishing in both Australia and New Zealand through their new 3D printing division - RedEye Australasia . Utilising all the skills and knowledge of RapidPro’s team of engineers and 3D print technicians, the RedEye Australasia Build centre will have even greater capabilities and services offering even more 3D printing and additive manufacturing solutions to existing clients. Still operating from separate sites in the short term, the merged operation will come together in a state of the art build centre before the end of the year. Objective3D will continue to distribute Stratasys 3D printers and materials, service and install Stratasys 3D printers, as well as offering even more training opportunities to existing machine owners by utilising the e...

As seen in the Herald-Sun 26 September 2013 Plain SLS fascinator prior to painting 3D printing has hit the Spring Racing Carnival with the creation of a spectacular 3D Printed fascinator, designed by Milliner Danica Erard, and printed by 3D Printing solutions bureau RapidPro. The fascinator was built from Nylon using EOS Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) and was then painted to the Ms Erard's specifications. This magnificent head piece was ordered, printed, painted and shipped within 36 hours, and is likely to be the most durable headwear at the Melbourne Cup  .. well, aside from the Jockey's helmets! For more information or to discuss your next 3D Printing project contact RapidPro on 1300 559 454. The article from the Herald-Sun 26/09/2013

David Reis 3D Printing Industry has carried out some excellent Interviews with Executives involved in 3D Printing (3DP) and Additive Manufacturing (AM). Below are links to the Executives Interviews with ties to technologies employed by RapidPro. Hans Langer It was late in 2012 when Stratasys and Objet merged and David Reis, CEO Stratasys Ltd became the Chief Executive Officer for the merged entity. Prior to this he was the CEO of Objet, so his interview is heavily aimed at the polyjet market. Hans Langer, CEO EOS GmbH Electro Optical Systems , was the founder of EOS in 1989, and is one of the longest standing Executives in the 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing sectors.

You may have seen the Adelaide Crows holding bright yellow question marks with the words "R U OK" printed on the front. These question marks were 3D printed by RapidPro for use in the 2013 R U OK day to be held on September 12. The Question Marks were printed using Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) in RedEye Australasia's build centre in Melbourne. The Question Marks were printed in two halves, sanded to a smooth finish and then painted and clear coated in satin, enabling them to be used as the end use product on the Question Mark campaign around Australia. Each Question Mark was fitted with a GPS tracker to monitor their progress around Australia. More than just a 3D Printing service provider, RapidPro offers 3D print solutions, working with clients to ensure they meet their projects timelines, requirements and budget. Speak to our qualified engineers about your 3D printing requirements.  To find out a little more about the R U OK Question Marks and their progres...

As Seen in Curve Issue 42

The Australian Design Integration Network (ADIN) is holding a series of workshops, the first is in Melbourne on A ugust 20. The workshop aims to help shape the formation of a strategy for the broad based adoption of design-led innovation to drive the future of manufacturing competitiveness in Australia. Workshops are being held in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Hobart, Adelaide and Perth. For more information or to register your interest, click here . Simon Bartlett from RapidPro and RedEye Australasia will be at the Melbourne event along with Jeff Hansen, RedEye Business Manager, fresh from the USA. Don't miss out on catching up with industry leaders at this cutting edge workshop!

The CSIRO Titanium Challenge is on again for 2013 but be quick because entries close August 21! Entry is open to Under Graduates and Post Graduates at Universities in Australia and New Zealand (see terms and conditions) and offers three amazing prizes: * Materials Challenge for years 1-4 – the winner gets a trip to Boeing Commercial Airplanes in Seattle and spends a day with working engineers * 3D Printing Challenge for any college student -  the winner gets an UP! Personal 3D Printer * Graduate Materials Challenge - The winner receives a sponsored trip to present at the International Titanium Association meeting in Las Vegas. For more details click on the link below. Good Luck!

When Alfred Boyadgis approached RapidPro to prototype his Forcite helmet, it became apparent to the engineers at RapidPro that a selection of 3D Printing technologies were required to deliver what Alfred needed from the prototype.  A collection of In-house Additive Manufacturing technologies and materials were used to produce the final product as shown below. The Main body was made using ZCorp plaster/Epoxy modelling, the visor was made using CNC from polycarbonate and polished, the visor surround was built using Redeye FDM, and several smaller parts were made using Objet polyjet technology. Ben Grubb, Deputy Technology Editor for The Age, recently reported on Alfred Boyadgis and the Forcite helmet. Click here to read the full story , or see what Alfred had to say via the video below.

Telstra Option City built entirely from 3D printing and Additive Manufacturing Technology at RapidPro Things have been pretty hectic at RapidPro of late, especially with the evolution of Telstra Option City, designed by The Face and built by RapidPro utilising all the technologies we have in-house including our engineers expertise and skill to deliver a complex model that sits on a large plinth, rotates and has all the lights and whistles ... literally! The buildings were made using RedEye Australasia's Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) build centre, the signage was built using Objet's polyjet technology, the fine detail including satellite dishes etc utilise ZCorp and EOS SLS parts for fine feature detail and the entire project was painted to precise specifications by our team of painting and finishing experts. To read the full case study, visit our website by clicking here .  Check out the video to see how this complex model of architectural buildings came together...

"Within the next decade, additive manufacturing could make our complicated global supply chain obsolete, replacing it with a new economy based on a high-tech system of local, connected suppliers." Travis Hessman, Associate Editor, IndustryWeek, Jul. 11, 2013 A recent story for MHLNews, highlights 3D printing and the need for 3D printing Service bureaus. Read the articles by following the link below: The Rise of The Printing Bureau   and 3D printing the Supply Chain .  RedEye bureau - able to print on demand in various locations around the world including Australia

Today I noticed an interesting article on Quartz regarding 3D printing patents expiring and how that will impact the market.The article describes how with patents for Laser Sintering expiring in 2014, there will be an influx of cheaper machines making the technology more accessible to everybody. Much like what happened with Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM), originally patented by Stratasys before expiring and MakerBot making it's mark.  Several key points were raised and I would like to take this opportunity to explain things from a local Australian perspective. POINT 1: With the end of patents comes an influx of low end machines to the market making home 3D printing more accessible, in this case for laser sintering.  At this point it is important to note that that not all 3D printers are the same. A 3D printer, like those used by bureaus, cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. The resulting part will be of a much higher standard and quality than something produced...

China is not always cheaper, especially when it comes to SLS printed parts and prototypes. To test this theory we sent out a CAD file to be quoted by 3 companies in China. We also quoted the CAD file ourselves using RapidPro’s quoting system. The results were surprising … There is a common misconception that if you want something cheap, go straight to China. And while there are undoubtedly many things that are cheaper in China, SLS prototyping is not one of them.    Let me explain …  With so much hype about China being cheaper, we decided to test this theory by getting several Chinese companies to quote on printing a single file in SLS. We looked at time to respond, lead time (excluding freight) and cost. *Click to enlarge So how did we compare…. *Click to enlarge Not only were our costs comparable or cheaper, our turnaround and lead times were much faster, ensuring the customer receives their parts faster and cheaper than if they h...

Have you ever wondered who the Engineers are behind RapidPro? Check them out at our Meet the Experts page on our website. For example: Did you know that Simon is a Six Sigma Black Belt? Did you know that Hugh can craft guitars using CNC?  Did you know that Daniel is an SLS innovator? Read about our expert team by clicking here . 

RapidPro shines at 3D Printing Expo At a recent 3D Printing Expo in Mackay, Queensland, Simon Bartlett, Director and Engineering Manager of RapidPro and Redeye Australasia spoke about the future of 3D printing. In an interview with the ABC, Simon said that Australian mining companies could make their own parts on site in a fraction of the time that it takes get parts manufactured offsite and then freighted in. Simon described 3D printing like Batman's utility belt. “To get through his day he needs to be able call on a number of different technologies or a number of different tools. I think [3D Printing] is definitely a new tool and people are now just trying to work out how it fits in to what they do,” explained Simon to Brock Taylor of the ABC. Read what Brock Taylor, an ABC News reporter, had to say at: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-14/3d-printing-to-revolutionise-parts-manufacturing/4753768 Also reported at Australian Mining: http://www.miningaustral...

Rapid prototyping and 3D printing has certainly become more affordable, and with lightning fast turnaround, it is even easier to print one off items with very little notice. One such situation that presneted itself recently was the engagement of our own Operations Manager, Hugh Tevelein, to his lovely Fiance Kirra. Kirra and Hugh wanted to personalise their engagement party envelopes, and with a stable of 3D printing machines at his fingertips, he was able to create this personalised stamp almost instantly. The CAD drawing of the personalised stamp Using  FDM (Fused Deposition Modelling) for the handle and Objet polyjet printing for the rubber stamp, RapidPro designed and printed a personalised stamp much faster and cheaper than comparable stamps online.   The rubber stamp and handle Not your average stamp, it is almost 5cm in diameter, completely personalised and suitable for use with a standard ink pad. The finished product Weddings and engagements a...

Last year RapidPro worked with Megafun to create another zoetrope ( you may remember the TY The Tasmanian Tiger Zoetrope at ACMI ), only this time, it was to resemble chocolate! The client was Panny's Chocolate World at Phillip Island and the zoetrope is now on show as part of their delicious Chocolate World experience.  Made using several different rapid prototyping techniques, materials and technologies, all parts had to be durable enough to withstand repetitious angular acceleration and centrifugal forces. A combination of FDM, Objet and ZCorp technologies were needed to deliver the required results, and after one year of constant use, the Zoetrope has withstood the test of time, and continues to amaze children and adults alike. Watch it by clicking on this link: Chocolate Zoetrope  

RapidPro has recently expanded its 3D services to include colour SLS nylon parts and prototypes. Available in several colours including black, blue, red, orange, green and white (see colour palette to the right), the parts are dyed, rather than painted, providing a more durable colour finish. EOS SLS Nylon parts and prototypes are recommended for good overall performance including strength, chemical resistance and cost effectiveness. The dye does not interfere with any of these properties. Of course, SLS parts can also be painted to match any PMS or Pantone colour. Even Lexus used painted SLS parts to produce their "Steps" puppets. See the video here .

RapidPro has just finished up a very exciting week at NMW 2013 where we were pleased to showcase Black Ultem as well as all the processes we carry out at our factory in Mornington. We were able to highlight many of the new advances in 3D printing and Additive Manufacturing as well as the improvements in "Clear" printed materials and overmoulded Objet Connex parts.  Many Stratasys machine owners were also surprised to hear about the discounted corporate rate for 3D printing offered by RedEye Australasia as a way of supporting machine owners when they need materials or services that they do not have in-house. Mention the RedEye Corporate Advantage when you place your next order if you have not been receiving this discount or if you have a backlog of printing that you would like to outsource. It was also a great opportunity to upgrade our promotional material ... some people may be able to recognise the surfer at the bottom of our new poster!!! Please call to discuss y...

Come and see us at the Australian International Airshow and Aerospace & Defence Expo from 26th February - 3 March 2013 Redeye On Demand Australasia will be on hand in the AIDN showcase to answer your rapid prototyping and additive manufacturing questions. Come and see us to collect your free sample of the NEW Black Ultem - all the properties of ULTEM 9085 in Black - to reduce discolouration during field and functional testing. Like standard ULTEM 9085, the black color material has a V-0 flammability rating. The material is heat resistant up to 160 °C and is inherently flame-retardant. The material’s impact strength also makes it appealing to the aerospace industry, where high-strength, lightweight parts are extremely valuable. Hope to see you at the Airshow!