NEW Formlabs TPU 90A Powder, Sea Turtle Harness Update, & New Trade-In and Lease Opportunities
Just Released: Formlabs TPU 90A Powder
Just yesterday, Formlabs announced the release of their brand new SLS material, the Formlabs TPU 90A Powder. As the first non-nylon SLS powder Formlabs has produced, there is a lot of excitement built up around this announcement. This material will enable users to produce flexible, skin-safe prototypes and end-use parts that are also strong and durable for everyday use.
The material offers a shore hardness of 90A which falls into the medium-soft category. This classifies the feel of the material somewhere between a pencil eraser and tire tread. Notably so, the Formlabs TPU 90A is recognized for impressive elongation at break (EAP) and tensile strength. This feature creates design freedom when looking to create both soft and hard parts. Not to mention, the material also offers a 20% refresh rate which not only reduces waste but also optimizes cost per part. All of which is complimented by incredible accessibility and ease of use within the Fuse Series Ecosystems.
TPU 90A powder is ideal for a variety of applications including:
Check out the brand-new Formlabs TPU 90A material for yourself with a Free Sample, while supplies last!
3D Printed Harness for a Sea Turtle (Update)
For those following along with our Charlotte project, we have another long-awaited update! For those of you just joining us, let's catch you up. Charlotte (the sea turtle) located at Mystic Aquarium , was rescued in 2008 after being struck by a boat. The strike caused severe injuries to his shell, hind flippers, and caused a bubble to develop in his GI tract. He has since recovered his shell and hind flippers but the bubble in his GI tract still remains, forcing Charlotte to swim in a head-down position. Performing surgery to remove the bubble is deemed too risky. Therefore, another solution is necessary for Charlotte to return to a neutral buoyancy.
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After great success with Mystic's Purps the Penguin in 2016 and her 3D printed boot (which she is STILL wearing), Mystic reached out with this challenge in attempts to develop a long-term solution for Charlotte. The long-term solution? A 3D printed harness.
Yesterday, we paid a visit to our friends at Mystic Aquarium for another fitting of the latest version of the harness. One of the most important aspects of the harness is that it fits comfortably for Charlotte. Therefore, the harness is custom to Charlotte's shell. Based off of a 3D scan (with the help of Functional 3D ), the harness was designed and 3D printed to match the appropriate shape, size, and uniqueness of Charlotte's exact shell.
Now for the update. Since our last visit, we've made a few design changes based on feedback from the vet staff. The first adjustments were made to improve stability. The weights are now located higher on the harness and are also adjustable on the horizontal axis. As the bubble in his GI tract shifts, this feature will allow the vet staff to adjust the weights from side to side when needed.
It was also noted that the new harness needed to be more rigid with some flexibility for comfort. To do this, we added more ribbing to the cross bars and switched up materials. This version of the harness was made of two materials, one being Oxford Performance Materials, Inc. 's PEKK (beige) and the other, Formlabs Nylon 11 CF (black). We chose these materials to provide necessary stiffness to the structure as well as add comfort for Charlotte.
So, how does Charlotte feel about this new harness? Based on his test drive with the harness yesterday, it looks to be pretty comfortable. Once Charlotte gets used to wearing this new super suit, the staff at Mystic will begin to add weights. You'll notice that the harness has 5 "inserts" at the bottom. These "inserts" enable Mystic to add or take away weights on a need-basis. Once the appropriate amount of weight is added, Charlotte will be able to swim neutrally and comfortably with a better quality of life in his forever home.
Want $5000 Towards a Brand New 3D Printer?
Is your current 3D printer outdated or just not performing like it used to? Our new special opens the door to a guilt-free upgrade. With our trade-in special, you can receive up to $5,000 for trading in your 3D printers. What's more is that we now have leasing options available for the same price per month as just one outsourced print! Why outsource when you can produce high quality parts in-house when you need them? These leasing opportunities are available for the Figure 4 Standalone, Fuse 1+, and more. Contact us today to check the value of your printers or to learn more about our new leasing opportunities!
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