Editor’s Pick: DLP Printers Deploy 4M Pixel Projector

Dear DE Reader:

Additive manufacturing cognoscenti can get their knickers in a twist over the pros and cons of DLP (digital light processing) technology versus other methodologies that also use light to build 3D parts. Sorry, no such partisanship today. You're smart enough to decide what technology fits your workflows, so here's a little light shining on a new series of DLP 3D printers that sounds well worth checking out.

EnvisionTEC recently introduced its Perfactory P4K Series of DLP-based 3D printers. There are four models in the line. They are named after their native pixel size XY resolution specification. So, you have the Perfactory P4K 35, which has 35µm resolution. Its siblings are the Perfactory P4K 62, P4K 75 and the P4K 90.

Their build volumes range from 3.5x2.2x7.9 in. for the P4K 35 to the P4K 90's 9.1x5.7x7.9 in. They all can use various materials and can handle jobs ranging from end-use modeling to fast design verification, prototyping, casting and end-use parts. They're equally at home in 24/7 manufacturing environments in aerospace, automotive, medical devices and consumer goods. Aside: EnvisionTEC has a big footprint in the dental and hearing aid industries.

Two big things make these rigs interesting. One is that the photopolymer materials don't require a vat and that changing over materials appears to be fast and painless. At the end of today's write-up, hit the link to the Perfactory P4K landing page to peruse a huge list of available materials.

But the big enchilada is the Perfactory P4K Series 3D printers deploy what the company calls “a true 4M pixel projector” with UV optics tuned to 385nm wavelength. The pixel projector has a high, 2560x1600 pixel WQXGA (wide quad extended graphics array) resolution.

Still, the kicker here is that the 4M pixel projector leverages pixel-tuning artificial intelligence modulation techniques to help you achieve accurate, high-quality 3D prints with smooth finishes. (The pic of dentures in the data sheet linked off today's main write-up gives you an example to chew on.) Depending on the material you use, the P4K units can provide a 25—150μm Z axis dynamic voxel resolution.

You can learn some about the Perfactory P4K Series 3D printers series in today's Editor's Pick of the Week write-up. You'll find links to a couple of white papers and to EnvisionTEC's library where you can read more about what DLP technology can offer. It's fascinating stuff.

Thanks, Pal. Happy New Year.

Anthony J. Lockwood
Editor at Large, DE

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