3D Systems reports early success for Accura Xtreme

3D Systems' beta testing partners are said to have experienced exceptional results, including outstanding toughness and durability, from Accura Xtreme Plastic. With the look and feel of a durable moulded plastic, this material offers an impact strength of nearly 1 ft-lb/in. This impact strength, combined with an elongation at break of up to 22 per cent, makes Accura Xtreme Plastic one of the most durable stereolithography materials available today.

Other features include low viscosity, resulting in easy operation and fast part creation, and quick cleaning and finishing with less waste, making it more cost-effective to use. In addition, Accura Xtreme Plastic offers modest thermal and moisture resistance that enables parts made from it to be used without rapid deterioration, unlike some other products in this performance class.

Models and prototypes produced with Accura® Xtreme Plastic are now available from two of 3D Systems' preferred service providers, Tangible Express and Scicon Technologies. 3D Systems expects to complete launching Accura Xtreme Plastic to all of its customers and preferred service providers during the fourth quarter of 2007.

Scott Turner, president of Scicon Technologies, comments: "We are excited to participate in the Accura Xtreme Plastic initial marketplace testing and evaluation and are very impressed by its performance. In the course of this evaluation we had the opportunity to build and supply a significant volume of pre-production parts and bridge manufacturing parts for very demanding applications. We could not have fulfilled these requirements with any other stereolithography material. Toughness, accuracy, speed and minimal post processing positions Accura Xtreme Plastic at the top of my list for durable functional and production parts."

Abe Reichental, 3D Systems' president and chief executive officer, adds: "Having such a wonderful response to a new product during its initial limited rollout demonstrates that 3D Systems' research and development efforts are on target. With Accura Xtreme Plastic, we have created a new benchmark for material toughness."