Printer performance and reliability directly impact your bottom line. Stratasys' F123 line of FDM 3D printers is the most accurate compared to various competitors and the fastest, with the least downtime. Confidently print more parts in less time with a Stratasys F123 series FDM 3D printer.

Industry Report: White Paper

Desktop and low-priced 3D printers may seem the logical choice to start with 3D printing. But it’s often the wrong choice because these 3D printers are typically not up to the task nor have the trusted reliability of FDM technology.

This white paper highlights a third-party head-to-head comparison and how each 3D printer fared. Curious to know how F123 Series FDM 3D printers stack up against these competitors?

Download this white paper, evaluate and learn how F123 Series out preforms it's competition.

PPSF (polyphenylsulfone) is a high-temperature, high-strength, and chemically resistant FDM material. While ideal for demanding applications, the durability and chemical resistance make finishing PPSF parts with sandpaper or solvents difficult and time-consuming.

When smooth surfaces are needed, hand sanding or milling are the two options most often used. Resistant to abrasion, PPSF makes hand sanding a laborious task that can consume hours. While a finishing pass with a CNC mill can make short work of surface smoothing, it negates many of the advantages of the FDM process. To prepare for machining, time is needed for CAM programming and machine set-ups. Machining also requires that an operator oversees the process.

If PPSF is used to make tools or molds, there is a new and faster alternative for surface smoothing, thermoforming. A thin sheet of plastic is drawn onto the surface of the PPSF part. While it conforms to the part’s shape, the plastic sheet does not transfer the layer lines to the outer surface. To preserve the mechanical, thermal, and chemical advantages of PPSF, the thermoforming process uses sheets of plastic made from PEEK resin. Versus hand sanding, PEEK thermoforming can reduce lead time by 75 percent
and cost by 90 percent (table 1).

30 years of expertise. One leader in FDM.

For manufacturers new to 3D printing and established factory floors alike, Stratasys FDM® 3D printers are the game-changing choice — allowing you to build strong, durable, and dimensionally stable prototypes, tools and production parts with industry-leading repeatability and reliability. Additionally, our experts are well-versed in many global manufacturing methods and ready to help you find ways to shave days off production cycles, meet industry demands and maximize throughput.

Expanding Applied Learning

Students Gain High-Demand Skills with 3D Printing

Dunwoody College of Technology (Dunwoody) was founded in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1914 to provide a rigorous, industry-focused technical education. As the region's oldest and only non-profit technical college, Dunwoody has garnered an international reputation for its successful approach.

Dunwoody incorporates hands-on, applied learning with 3D printing playing a crucial part in the curriculum. Students learn critical thinking and practical, real-world skills in high demand. “In the last three years, there has been a huge momentum increase in 3D printing at Dunwoody, and students want programs centered on it,” said E.J. Daigle, Dean of Robotics & Manufacturing at Dunwoody."