Newsletter May 2008

In this issue:

• RedEye and Alibre partner to offer instant rapid prototyping quotes from Alibre Design

• Did you know ABS-M30i

• A note from Tim Thellin on Real Thermoplastics

• Customer application of the month

RedEye and Alibre partner to offer instant rapid prototyping quotes from Alibre Design

At the RAPID show in Orlando on May 20, RedEye and Alibre, Inc. (www.alibre.com) announced a new partnership that enables users of Alibre Design 3D CAD software to obtain instant quotes for designs using RedEyes Web-based quoting system.

As part of the partnership, RedEye created a software add-on for Alibre Design that generates instant quotes for parts and assemblies directly inside the Alibre Design interface. In addition, designers securely can transmit the design to RedEye to build after receiving a quote. The quotes are based on services offered by RedEye, which houses nearly 100 additive fabrication systems in its facilities worldwide, most of which are fused deposition modeling® systems manufactured by Stratasys.

Designers now have direct access to prototypes and custom manufactured parts that can be made and shipped to them in a matter of days, says Tim Thellin, RedEye product manager. This add-on offers a simple, direct connection for designers to get quotes instantly without having to upload files to our Web site.

Alibre Design, part of Alibres Personal CAD/CAM™ family of integrated 3D parametric design and manufacturing products, supports the industry standard .STL output for rapid prototyping and manufacturing, which closely integrates with RedEyes online, instant quoting system. Alibre will create and offer, as a free download, a special version of its 3D parametric design product, Alibre Design Xpress, which will include RedEyes instant quoting add-on.

  Alibre is all about breaking down the barriers to 3D and empowering the individual to innovate, says Greg Milliken, CEO of Alibre. RedEye is the perfect partner to help us extend that vision.  You dont have to be a big company or have a big budget to take advantage of our complementary technologies, he continues. In fact, starting with our free Alibre Design Xpress software and the affordable RPM services from RedEye, anyone with a good idea can be an inventor or an entrepreneur.

RedEye accepts files in .STL format and builds prototypes and parts in 8 different thermoplastic materials ranging from ABS blends to a high heat and chemical resistant PPSF. The partnership between RedEye and Alibre simplifies the product development cycle for designers from creation through purchasing prototypes and parts.

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Did you know

That RedEye recently started offering a new material?

ABS-M30i was added to RedEyes materials offering in April. ABS-M30i is a high strength material well suited for the medical and food packaging industries.  Parts manufactured with ABS-M30i material are biocompatible (ISO 10993 certified) and can be gamma or EtO sterilized.

 
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A note from Tim Thellin on Real Thermoplastics

A recent article in Modern Plastics mentioned the use of additive fabrication processes moving toward end-use production using materials that mimic thermoplastics. Many competitive processes do use materials that mimic thermoplastics. However, because Stratasys manufactures its own materials from the same raw stock used in injection molding, RedEye builds FDM parts in real thermoplastics, thus giving your applications more durability, strength and quality close to that of injected molded parts.

Some of the other additive fabrication technologies use lasers or UV lights to cure the resins and powders employed in those processes. The Stratasys process transforms the raw stock into a filament that is then heated and extruded through the FDM process. That means that the raw stock thermoplastic is never altered. From raw stock, to finished product, you are getting a real thermoplastic part.

As we mentioned earlier in this newsletter, RedEye now offers a new material called ABS-M30i. We already offer a variety of ABS materials with several color options. As Stratasys continues to enhance the quality of FDM machines with more precise extrusions that produce parts with less porosity, we will move even closer to providing a real competitive advantage over injection molding with real thermoplastic parts.

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Customer Application of the Month

Gordon, Inc. recently called on RedEye to build a prototype of a highly custom ceiling system component in ABS White. Gordon chose RedEye because of its material selection, delivery time and most of all, ease of use of the RedEye Web site. "We were totally delighted with our experience at RedEye," said Leonard Lorden, engineer at Gordon. "I was able to upload my file, get a quote and save it, while I processed the paperwork. It made placing the order so much easier."

Gordon, Inc. was founded in 1964 and its manufacturing facility utilizes more than 226,000 square feet, supported by over 70 independent agents worldwide. Gordon specializes in acoustical and decorative metal ceilings, engineered ceiling systems and wall systems for commercial, industrial, institutional, and correctional facility applications.

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