PLASTICS: 3D PRINTING
by any means necessary
MakerBot has launched Method X, bringing real ABS 3D printing
to manufacturing, as well as dimensional accuracy, precision, and
reliability at a fraction of industrial 3D printing costs.
MakerBot has announced the launch
of Method X, a manufacturing
workstation engineered to challenge
traditional manufacturing with real ABS
(acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) material, a
100°C chamber, and Stratasys SR-30 soluble
supports to deliver exceptional dimensional
accuracy and precision for complex, durable
parts. Method X is capable of printing real
ABS that can withstand up to 15°C higher
temperatures, is up to 26% more rigid,
and up to 12% stronger than modi ed ABS
formulations used on desktop 3D printer
competitors. Real ABS parts printed on Method
X have no warping or cracking that typically
occurs when printing modi ed ABS on desktop
platforms without heated chambers.
Desktop 3D printer manufacturers attempt
to get around part deformation that occurs,
due to the high shrinkage rate of the material,
by using a heated build plate in combination
with altered ABS formulations that are easier to
print but compromise thermal and mechanical
properties. MakerBot Precision ABS has a heat
de ection temperature of up to 15°C higher
than competitors’ ABS, which are modi ed
to make material printable without a heated
chamber. With Method X, the 100°C circulating
heated chamber signi cantly reduces part
deformation while increasing part durability and
surface nish.
The MakerBot Method X combines industry
expertise and technologies from Stratasys
with MakerBot’s accessibility and ease of use
to provide professionals with an industrial 3D
printer at a disruptive price point.
MakerBot ABS for
Method has excellent
thermal and mechanical
properties similar to
ABS materials used
for injection moulding
applications—making
it ideal for a wide
range of applications,
including end-use parts,
manufacturing tools, and
functional prototypes. A
Method X
is the only 3D
printer in its price
class that uses
SR-30 – enabling
unlimited design
100°C Circulating Heated Chamber
freedom
provides a stable print environment for
superior Z-layer bonding—resulting in highstrength
parts with superior surface nish. With
the MakerBot Method X, engineers can design,
test, and produce models and custom end-use
parts with durable, production- grade ABS for
their manufacturing needs.
Also new is the availability of Stratasys SR-30
material for easy and fast support removal.
Method X is the only 3D printer in its price class
that uses SR-30—enabling unlimited design
freedom and the ability to print unrestricted
geometries, such as large overhangs, cavities,
and shelled parts. The combination of SR-30
and MakerBot ABS is designed to provide
outstanding s surface nish
and print precision.
“When we initially
launched Method, we broke
the price-to-performance barrier by
delivering a 3D printer that was designed to
bridge the technology gap between industrial
and desktop 3D printers. This made industrial
3D printing accessible to professionals for the
rst time. Since then, we have shipped hundreds
of printers and received positive feedback from
our customers on the precision and reliability
of the machine,” says Nadav Goshen, CEO,
MakerBot. “With Method X, we are taking a
step further to revolutionise manufacturing.
Method X was created for engineers who
need true ABS for production-ready parts that
are dimensionally-accurate with no geometric
restrictions. Method X delivers industrial-level
3D printing without compromising on ABS
28 www.materialsforengineering.co.uk Autumn 2019
/www.materialsforengineering.co.uk