Hype is no stranger to the 3D printing/ additive manufacturing market place. It is understandable, then, that personnel responsible for implementing AM capabilities often have a healthy degree of skepticism or even confusion regarding the best use of their investment dollars.
Perhaps the most important criteria when considering an initial or additional AM equipment purchase is “How can this purchase add to my efficiency, cost effectiveness and overall part production capabilities to meet current and potential future requirements?” There are applications that are well defined, such as dental, where a narrow specialized solution is indeed the best solution. However, given the ever expanding range of application possibilities based on material and software developments, versatility and adaptability of the selected technology are indeed important parameters to evaluate.
A simple filter to evaluate your next 3D printing /AM equipment purchase is the simple question: “ Can your equipment do this…..
Can it make large, complex parts…
Photo Caption: This complex 18” x 10” x10” footstool was produced as “one part” with an extremely smooth surface. The part demonstrates the intermediate step in producing a metal clad part with properties approaching die cast aluminum
…build extremely small parts or enable highly detailed features in larger parts?
Photo caption: The ability to produce small parts with great detail as well larger parts with highly precise features with minimal post finishing highlights the versatility of the SL process.
… produce full density, non-porous parts and extremely smooth surfaces with exacting detail and resolution?
… produce light weighted structures with hollow, reinforced sections
Photo Caption: This hollow built pattern for investment casting illustrates both the extremely smooth, full density sidewalls as well as light-weighting capability.
Courtesy of DSM Courtesy of Materialise
… utilize materials that produce parts ranging from high clarity and colorless to the pigmented aesthetic of injection molded materials. Can it utilize materials that produce parts with mechanical and physical properties ranging from tough, flexible polypropylene-like to robust ABS- like and glass filled polycarbonate?
Can your equipment be utilized to create a wide range of smooth precise casting patterns, robust jigs and fixtures, wind tunnel test models, metal-clad composites with near die cast aluminum properties and tooling for a range of plastic forming processes?
Can you access the largest installed base of service providers and one of the largest bodies of application expertise for additional support or capacity?
Photo Caption: Stereolithography equipment will produce high- quality tooling for testing and small runs for injection molders looking to reduce tooling problems for customers and parts down the road.
Why UnionTechTM?
UnionTechTM SL equipment is designed for cost effectiveness throughout the ownership cycle while consistently enabling production of parts with exceptional aesthetics, including impressively smooth side-walls straight out of the machine. UnionTechTM SL’s open design, allows users to choose the best and most cost-effective software and materials for their application.
Union Tech Inc.
Established in 2000, the UnionTechTM brand of photopolymer 3D industrial printing equipment is now the domestic China market leader in stereolithography. In 2016, the formation of Union Tech, Inc., in St. Charles, Illinois, a fully owned subsidiary of Shanghai Union Technology Corporation, marked our expansion into North America. International distributorships and agents have also been established throughout Europe and Russia. RP Sales America is the US distributor for Union Tech Inc. equipment.
For more information about the UnionTechTM equipment available in the United States: https://uniontech3d.com
RP Sales America, Inc.
Based in New Sharon, Iowa, RPSA distributes the Union Tech Inc. RSPro line of stereolithography equipment and is pleased to provide demonstrations. RP Sales America, Inc., through its sister company, RP Support America, Inc., ensures technical support and service of the UnionTech™ RSPro SL product line. To learn more, email Hannah@RPSales.us, call 641-651-0266 or visit www.rpsales.us.
