Newsletter June 2008

In this issue:

• Its Magic! Learn About the New MiniMagics Software for Analyzing .STL Files

• Did You Know? Stratasys Expands Lead in Additive Fabrication

• Webinar Recap - Friendly Competition: Rapid Tooling vs. Direct Digital Manufacturing

• Special Offer From RedEye Partner

It's Magic! Learn About the New MiniMagics Software for Analyzing .STL Files

Is there such a thing as a magic communication tool? Maybe not, but Tim Thellin, RedEye Product Manager, believes the newly released MiniMagics free software from Materialise comes close. "This application is the perfect communication tool between RedEye and its users to discuss projects and review parts, as well as handle any potential problems with files," he said. "Being able to read our customers files is critical to our business."

MiniMagics is a version of Magics RP, which enables users to import many different CAD formats and export .STL files for rapid prototyping and manufacturing. Through Magics RP, users can repair .STL files, unite shells, trim surfaces, measure and manipulate .STL files and use for Boolean operations, triangle reduction, smoothing and labeling, according to the Materialise Web site.

From a practical perspective, Magics RP enables users to check jobs before they send them to RedEye, saving time and money. An Autofix feature makes it easy to correct errors. The Cut & Punch tools also enable advanced cutting features, so that straight cuts can be bonded, maintaining even greater accuracy.

To find out more about Magics RP or MiniMagics, or to download the free software, visit http://www.materialise.com/software.

Top

Did You Know? Stratasys Expands Lead in Additive Fabrication

RedEye, the service arm of Stratasys, is proud to share the news that Stratasys has expanded its market leadership position in units shipped within the additive fabrication (AF) industry. According to the Wohlers Report, Stratasys shipped 44 percent of all systems worldwide in 2007, a jump from 42 percent in 2006. In addition, it maintains the highest global installed base of additive systems, according to the report. The report also indicated that direct digital manufacturing was one of the fastest growing industry applications in 2007.

Top

Webinar Recap
Friendly Competition: Rapid Tooling vs. Direct Digital Manufacturing

It was a case of dueling technologies. On June 18, RedEye and Vista Technologies teamed up for a webinar aimed at helping customers understand when to apply rapid tooling and when direct digital manufacturing (DDM) was the better option. Jeff Hanson, Manager of Business Strategy and Development for RedEye, and Dan Mishek, Co-owner and Sales Manager of Vista Technologies, led participants through trends in manufacturing, definitions of the two technologies, a discussion of cost differentials and examples of niche markets for both rapid tooling and direct digital manufacturing.

Recognizing that there is a global interest in finding new ways to achieve low volume production parts, Mishek gave a quick overview of product trends. He said, "The need for function now trumps the need for speed," as users are willing to wait longer for manufacturing to assure more functionality in a product. Today's manufacturing includes much more overlapping of rapid prototyping and production, Mishek added, especially in bridge tooling and pre-production DDM.

Hanson acknowledged the growth of DDM, citing Stratasys data showing that 42 percent of fused deposition modeling (FDM) system users in 2006 had production parts for end use on their system. DDM application criteria include the following, according to Hanson:

• Low production volumes

• High probabilities for design changes

• Internal features, complex geometries

• Low demand for tolerances, surface finish, strength

Limitations to DDM include build speed, limited materials, accuracy and surface finish. Hanson said advantages to DDM include the fact that no production tools are required, no documentation changes are needed and design complexities can be managed with made with no cost or time penalties.

Mishek described tool modifications that can be made with rapid tooling. In fact, he said six of ten molds are eventually modified. "You really can't tell that you need to make changes until you get specific materials in an exact testing environment," he said. Hanson added that one advantage of DDM is its ability to produce complex geometry and its use as a bridge to tooling, enabling users to apply the first few iterations to DDM to save money. "One of the strongest attributes for DDM is the freedom to redesign while you're in production," said Hanson.

Webinar participants were given a quick method for evaluating rapid tooling vs. DDM, taking into consideration the following needs:

• Part complexity

• Materials

• Quantity

• Tolerance

• Revisions

• Surface Finish

• Speed

During the course of the webinar, Hanson and Mishek also shared a comparison of several materials and provided numerous case studies with cost vs. quantity charts. At the end, questions were taken from the audience.

View the archived Rapid Tooling vs. DDM webinar. The presentation will be available for viewing until September 17, 2008, at 1:00 Eastern Daylight Time.

Top

Special Offer From RedEye Partner

Alibre is offering our newsletter readers 50% off of Alibre Design, the award-winning 3D parametric CAD system. A powerful and budget-friendly parametric modeling system, Alibre Design now has RedEyes instant online quoting system directly integrated for easy quotes and quick-turnaround prototypes. Now at 50% off for our readers, it's really too good to pass up!

More information about the Alibre offer >

Download the RedEye 3D CAD Add-in for Alibre with special offer >

Top