Ken Strausbaugh putting the kit to the test.
3D technologies and robotic additive manufacturing solutions provider Viridis3D has launched the RAM10 3D Printer Materials Development Kit, an open materials development system designed to make R&D faster, cheaper and easier.
The kit includes fluids manifold, electronics and spreader bars and it very simple in construction with fast test cycle times and small build volume.
Viridis3D CTO, Jim Bredt, commented: "Many of the most valuable product enhancements in 3D printing actually originated from the customers’ feedback." Therefore, Viridis3D has taken a very different tactic from the older large format printer manufacturers. The RAM10 3D Printer Development Kit allows users to change powder, binder, firing parameters, tubing, and powder deposition subsystems — enabling distributed development of new materials sets. The similarities allow scale-up to the larger systems to be as seamless as possible.
"We're very eager to see the products that come out of the academic and industrial sectors as they start to use this materials development system," explained Will Shambley, President of Viridis3D. "There are a great many untapped 3D printing applications. We're hoping that by making this easy-to-use development kit, that we will be able to create a thriving development community around the bigger production RAM printers."
The first system was installed in early June at Palmer Manufacturing & Supply, in Springfield OH and the company says its efforts on binder research were quickly rewarded. Ken Strausbaugh of Palmer Manufacturing & Supply efforts said: “It was extremely easy and fast to get the RAM10 up and running. With a little guidance form Viridis3D, we had a new ink working in just a few days,” said Strausbaugh.
Viridis3D can provide additional training on ink and powder development, and service & support for the systems. Options for new printhead and powder spreading configurations are currently in the works and will be available soon.
