The Impact Of Stratasys

Stratasys has been a revolutionary leader in the 3D printing world. Founded by S Scott Crump and his wife Lisa Crump in 1989, this company has been doing nothing but advancing the manufacturing world that we know today. Stratasys was founded in Eden Prairie, Minnesota a while back, and patented a well-known 3D printing process referred to as Fused Deposition Modeling, or FDM. This process of 3D printing is a form of additive manufacturing like any other type of 3D printing, but is truly revolutionary for its cost effective attributes.

This FDM 3D printing process involves the use of ABS plastic, Polyphenylsulfone (PPSF), Polycarbonate (PC), and Ultem 9085 as materials. The process of this Fused Deposition Modeling is a CAM system, or a Computer-Aided-Manufacturing system. This means that the intelligent computer on the 3D printer will tell the nozzle exactly where to move, and how to assemble a product in accordance to a 3D blueprint, designed by an engineer or 3D designer. Essentially, the material will be wound up in a string like state, and put in a spool. The nozzle or “funnel-like” jet of the 3D printer will pull on the string of material and will proceed to melt it in accordance to the design. Think about a hot glue gun being controlled by a computer, where the material would be the glue, and the hot nozzle on the hot glue gun would be the jet on an FDM printer. In this 3D printing process, the nozzle will melt material on top of the product in layers at a time. This 3D printing process known as Fused Deposition Modeling was invented and patented in 1989, and has truly impacted the manufacturing world that we know today.

Stratasys has held its own in the international 3D printing industry, and has truly stood out from its competition in many aspects. In 2007, Stratasys supplied 44% of all additive manufacturing systems worldwide. Just imagine that; Stratasys supplied 44% of the entire world in 3D printing! This company has been assisting many industries, including the automotive industry, aerospace industries, industrial industries, recreational industries, electronic industries, consumer industries, and even medical industries. The impact of Stratasys is huge across the world. By supplying 3D printers, it has truly assisted in changing the manufacturing world. 3D printing blows away many other traditional forms of manufacturing, and Stratasys has been one of the leaders in this process.

This company has also helped supplement the 3D printing world by expanding. Let me elaborate. Stratasys operates the 3D printing service known as Redeye on demand. It created the FORTUS series of 3D printers which are revolutionary for their strength and build envelopes. Stratasys recently developed a Mojo 3D Printer series which works with ABS ivory material, and creates it at a great level of detail, with a strong build size, all while fitting on your desk with a great price! Stratasys is a true innovator when it comes down to 3D printing, and will continue to impact the world that we know today.