RS strengthens 3D printer offering

13th March 2014

Mick Elliott

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RS Components is placing a bet on the forecast growth of 3D printing with the introduction of an array of 3D printers and print technologies to its product offering. The new introductions are from 3D Systems, a provider of 3D content-to-print solutions including 3D printers and print materials designed for professional, educational, and personal use.

The Second generation Cube is a plug-and-play printer offering 3D printing capability with fast print speed and high accuracy for printed parts up to 5.5in. cubed. Cube prints in two materials, compostable PLA and recyclable ABS plastics in a variety of colours. It offers a choice of print mode fill density: light, medium and solid in both PLA and ABS plastics with optional peel away supports for the most complex prints.

Certified to IEC 60950 for at-home use, the printer uses a smart cartridge system that detects material type automatically based on the cartridge, so no adjustment of the print settings is required. RS is stocking PLA cartridges for Cube in a range of nine colours.

A desktop 3D printer, dubbed CubeX offers the largest print volume in its category and mono, dual or triple-colour printing. CubeX provides professional printability with 1,070 cubic inches of space, or 10.8in x 10.45in. x 9.5in.. There are several options for print modes, including a choice of accuracy: High Definition (125 Micron), Crisp Definition (250 Micron) or Standard Definition (500 Micron), and a choice of print fill density: light, medium or solid. CubeX prints in both PLA and ABS plastics, and is available in multiple colour options.

Also new on the RS shelves is Sense, a 3D scanner designed for the consumer and optimised for 3D printing. The scanner is handheld, and delivers precise instant physical photography, processing data in seconds for an instantly 3D printable file. It comes with an intuitive user interface with easy and automated zoom, track, focus, crop, enhance and share tools. It can scan objects ranging from 20mm³ to 3m³, making it possible to capture people, objects and places on the go.

“By bringing the 3D Systems products into our 3D printing portfolio we are catering for a broader cross-section of users, spanning the consumer and professional sectors,” said Ben Lawton, Global Head of Tools and Consumables, RS Components. “Our aim is to provide customers from all walks of life with a complete, accessible 3D technology package, which combines our free, intuitive, DesignSpark Mechanical 3D design software, enabling engineers and enthusiasts anywhere to create 3D designs from scratch, and to see their work physically come off the 3D printer in as little as a few minutes.”