atum3D
atum3D DLP Station 4
atum3D's DLP Station 4 was officially launched at the 2016 formnext powered by TCT exhibition
Additive manufacturing leaders, atum3D have released the DLP Station 4 printer based on Digital Light Processing (DLP) technology.
Officially launched at formnext 2016, the printing system is the first DLP machine to offer a feature set that allows it to be used from prototyping plastic components to industrial serial production of finalised components.
The launch of the DLP Station 4 means, for the first time, atum3D rivals traditional manufacturing methods, like injection moulding, with a cost efficient, flexible alternative. In terms of flexibility, the DLP Station 4 can personalise the product and upgrade on the fly, helping to eliminate all lead time.
The company’s DLP Stations create components for consumer goods, automotive, aerospace and toys industries, which can be prototyped by product design studios or R&D departments on the very same machine. Introducing an optimised design with a stylish look and industrialised robustness, conceived by award-winning Dutch design studio VanBerlo, atum3D believe their system to produce incredibly accurate ready-to-use parts.
“This versatile DLP Station combines exceptional accuracy and material properties matching ABS and PU with a modular, scalable setup and an integral process to manufacture series of ready-to-use components,” Guy Nyssen, Channel Manager at atum3D said. “With the required tolerance levels and finishing, but without the lead times, inflexibility to instantly accommodate minor component changes and required investments in moulds or expensive hardware.”
VanBerlo were brought in to the design process to lend a creative hand by developing the DLP Station 4 in an aesthetically pleasing way, without compromising the machine’s function. To an extent, they helped to enhance the product. The unique metallic strip at the centre of the design, which illuminates in different colours to indicate the printer’s status, allows the DLP Station 4 to feedback to the user in a stylish manner.
The plinth, upon which the printer sits serves a dual purpose, bringing a boldness to the printer, while also maintaining its function. This function involves being able to uphold a useful storage space for the resins and materials that are used in the printing process.
Formnext powered by TCT was chosen for the venue to introduce the DLP Station 4 since ‘it is one of the biggest annual events in additive manufacturing'. Nyssen explained atum3D has attracted a lot of attention internationally this year which played some part in their decision to present the new machine in Frankfurt.
