Stratasys (Nasdaq: SSYS) has unveiled its latest material extrusion 3D printer, the F3300, targeting the aerospace, defense and service office markets just in time for Formnext. The first customer for the new system is the Japanese automobile giant Toyota.
The F3300 is scheduled to come onto the market in 2024 and is not only faster and more agile, but also outperforms its predecessors in print speed by 25%. Stratasys also claims that this system will reduce costs dramatically, by around 25-45%. The printer has a build volume of 600mm x 600mm x 800mm, features a tool changer and uses a unique filament diameter that sets it apart from other Stratasys systems.
“Increasing global supply chain challenges, conventional capacity constraints and application complexity are placing enormous stress on manufacturing.” “The F3300 enables customers to accelerate product development, innovate faster, overcome production challenges, get to market faster and maximize their return on investment,” said Rich Garrity, chief industrial business unit officer at Stratasys. “This next-generation additive manufacturing system enables customers to scale production and reduce the need to make compromises between additive and traditional manufacturing solutions. Increasing global supply chain challenges, traditional capacity constraints and application complexity are placing enormous stress on manufacturing. With the F3300, customers can accelerate product development, innovate faster, overcome production challenges, get to market faster and maximize their return on investment.”
Stratasys is making waves with the promise that the F3300 will result in cost savings of 25-45% compared to other systems, signaling the potential for more viable business models and applications. Intended to join the range-topping F900 lineup, the F3300 is marketed as a production system that offers a lower cost per part and is designed for high connectivity with enhanced data output capabilities for higher part production. In contrast, the F900 maintains its role as a more independent system, compatible with existing Stratasys devices through shared filament diameters, blueprints and other features.
The F3300 features different sized build plates, spools and a unique filament diameter. A notable upgrade includes completely redesigned extruders that apply more material more efficiently. Integrating a tool changer facilitates quick transitions between materials without the need for cooling and reheat nozzles, improving the ability to quickly change colors. Equipped with four material shafts and filament pre-drying, the system is optimized for speed and has a significantly higher travel speed than the previous models. This model features an extruder that moves vertically, optimizing the transition to new layers, complemented by advanced automatic calibration features.
“Having the opportunity to integrate the F3300 3D printer into our additive operations represents a major step forward toward achieving our company goals,” said Eduardo Guzman, Advanced Technologies Manager at Toyota. “The new printer capabilities will help us accelerate the adoption of new additive manufacturing capabilities in our manufacturing operations.”
Initially, the F3300 will be compatible with materials such as ASA, polycarbonate, polyamide 12 CF and ULTEM 9085, the latter of which is particularly preferred in aerospace applications for parts ranging from drone wing segments to general aviation interior assemblies. ASA is praised for its durability, particularly in outdoor applications, often producing better results than the similar ABS. The PA 12 CF is characterized by a robust manufacturing material that is already widely used by machine manufacturers for end-use parts.
While the company plans to introduce soluble and breakable substrates, the system will not support open materials – a point of contention for those pushing for greater flexibility and cost reduction in manufacturing. Despite this limitation, the new system has generated excitement, particularly given Stratasys’ recent focus on rebranding and tailoring software across the range to specific market segments, such as dental, rather than introducing new material extrusion technology.
By moving to a multi-nozzle arrangement with movable nozzles instead of the plate, Stratasys has reignited interest in its technological advances. There is great interest in finding out how this system will perform in large-scale production and what potential it has to increase production efficiency.
