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IPF Ltd. Launches the First Multiple Material Rapid Prototyping Service
The IPF Rapid Prototyping Bureau make the U.K launch of the award winning Objet Connex500 multi-material 3D Printer, which offers the completely unique ability to print parts and assemblies made of multiple model materials, with different mechanical or physical properties, all in a single build. Taking the revolution even further, IPF can also fabricate Digital Materials™ on the fly, enabling users to create composite materials that have preset combinations of mechanical properties.
The Connex500 simultaneously prints two model materials and creates 21 types of Digital Materials. It can also print a single material from any of the seven original model materials in the range including flexible materials with rubber like qualities.
By printing with Digital Materials, the Connex500™ allows us to print parts with specific Shore A values to match the values of the intended production materials. This capability opens up new opportunities, bringing you much closer to realizing your final product at an early stage, including feasibility testing and over-molding process simulation.
Key Benefits
Simultaneously prints parts with different mechanical properties, opening the way to savings throughout the design cycle.
 Enables close emulation of the look, feel and function of final products, facilitating selection of the end-product materials.
Enables printed prototypes that are very close to the production part in terms of mechanical properties and material combinations, e.g. over-molding and double injection.
Reduces the need for silicon molds and preparation of different end-product materials for testing by enabling most of the testing to be done on early stage prototypes printed overnight on the Connex500.
Saves costs and time on applications that would usually involve cementing separate parts made of different materials, or cementing several small pieces to make a large part.
Improves communication between different groups and decision makers in the company, such as R&D, internal/external customers, engineering, marketing, sales and management
Wide choice of materials
Creates 21 Digital Materials™ – Composite materials made up of two model materials integrated in specific concentrations and structures to provide the desired mechanical properties
Variety of build processes and printing modes
Mixed Parts – Parts printed using multiple model materials; eliminates the need to design, print and cement together separate model parts to make a complete model, leading to dramatic savings in printing and post-processing time.
Outstanding quality, accuracy
Assures high quality for all your parts, even those with complicated geometries.
The highest resolution in the market, with identical X & Y resolution of 600 DPI – enables models with fine features.
Smooth surface finish -- Eliminates the stair effect common to complicated curved surfaces built in lower resolution
Thin walls down to 0.6mm (0.024”)
Horizontal layers of 16µ (0.0006”)
Ultra-fine details in all dimensions
Click here to view the Connex 500 Galleries >>
CAD – Objet Studio Workflow [ PDF: 6.45Mb ] >>
(Information about the interface between your CAD software and the Connex500™ 3D printer)
Send us an STL file and you'll have a quote back within the hour! Email gary@ipfl.co.uk. | 
