Apr 25, 2018 | By David
This year’s RAPID + TCT show in Fort Worth, Texas, is North America’s leading conference for 3D technology manufacturers and researchers, and a number of key 3D printing players are showcasing their latest breakthroughs. A lot of buzz has been generated around one relative newcomer to the 3D printing world, 3D Currax Solutions. Keynote speaker and industry veteran Todd Grimm identified the company as being one of the main 3D printing figures to look out for over the next three years.
3D Currax is headquartered in British Columbia, Canada, and is currently expanding its U.S base in Buffalo, NY. The company was founded back in 2015 by CEO Barry Mills. Its focus is on the development of advanced 3D printing systems that are capable of higher per-part production speeds than those offered by conventional injection molding systems. These new shorter production times have the potential to revolutionize industries that rely on rapidly-changing technologies, such as automotive, toys and healthcare.
One of the main features of 3D Currax’s 3D printing systems is its proprietary LCD technology. Using a LCD panel as a dynamic mask, the UV light of every individual pixel can be perfectly controlled, which leads to improved print resolution. This can also eliminate the distortion that can often occur when SLA/DLP/SLS 3D printing technology is scaled to larger build chambers, which is one of the major problems that the industry currently faces.
Another key element in 3D Currax's 3D printers is the company's React1 technology, a system it developed to allow printers to self-optimize based on hardware feedback that they receive in real-time. This drastically reduces their per-layer cycle time and improves print speeds, working in combination with the company’s adaptive A.I. software. The company has also developed an automated, customizable, interlocking modular system for post-processing of parts.
3D Currax offers different 3D printing systems that are tailored to specific applications. The MRK III machine has a maximum build volume of 8,265 cubic inches (0.135 m³), and is ideal for medical, dental and educational applications. On a larger scale, the MRK X has a maximum build volume of 159,409 cubic inches (2.61 m³), and it is currently poised to take a major share of the mass-production plastics manufacturing market from injection molding machines.
(the MRK X. all images, source: 3D Currax)
According to Grimm, President of marketing and consultancy firm T. A. Grimm & Associates, "3D Currax has been privately developing technology that will advance production of mainstream products with a key focus on a process that can make optimal parts for their intended use...(it) took the combination of advanced additive manufacturing, custom robotics, AI, machine learning and development of key proprietary technology. In the end, they have designed an end-to-end system that makes finished 3D printed parts with no human interaction needed."
"The market we’re targeting is as-yet untouched for the additive manufacturing industry," said Mills. "We’re going up against this behemoth but with the ability to produce parts faster and more efficiently, plus the added bonus of producing extremely complex parts. It truly is a David and Goliath type of scenario." In terms of materials, 3D Currax offers a number of proprietary resins for 3D printing, and it is also planning to create a market for open-source resin creators.
Posted in 3D Printer Company
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