Lynxter announced a very interesting set of accessories for their silicone 3D printer.
The company has long produced equipment that can print silicone, one those elusive materials that is near-impossible to print on conventional 3D printers. Lynxter developed a unique solution to the problem, and they’ve been marketing it for years.
However, silicone is a tricky material. Even with Lynxter’s standard 3D printer, you would be challenged to print complex geometries, overhangs and models with thin walls.
Now they seem to have a solution for these problems: the NEST system. It’s a method for providing support to silicone 3D prints, and it comes in two configurations.
NEST – GEL is a configuration that allows a needle-like nozzle to deposit silicone within a vat of gel. The gel easily supports the extruded silicone, making it possible to print objects with very thin walls. At top you can see a part made using this process.
The second type is NEST – POWDER. It’s the same idea as NEST – GEL, but with inert powder. The powder supports the print, and does so in a stronger fashion. This allows for printing of larger objects in much more complex geometries. Lynxter suggests it is ideal for ”anatomical models, standardized training models, or simulators for medical device testing.”
The NEST – GEL solution is somewhat similar to RLP’s gel process. When we spoke to them we learned that their process is suitable only for certain types of geometries, typically in vase mode where the part is printed continuously without interruption. I suspect that Lynxter found the same challenges and that’s perhaps why they also developed NEST – POWDER, which can handle more geometries.
Either way, the NEST series is a powerful addition to Lynxter’s lineup.
The NEST series is designed to be an add-on to the company’s S300X – LIQ21 | LIQ11. They provide a “starter kit” that includes a vat, gel/powder and “accessories”. Prices are not mentioned, as you must get a quote from Lynxter for these products.
This is a good move for Lynxter, as the new capabilities will certainly enable more types of silicone applications. And that means any party requiring those applications will be knocking on Lynxter’s door.
Via Lynxter
