New Stratasys 3D Printing Solution for Eyewear Aims to Get Frames to Market One Year Faster

HONG KONG, Sept. 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — From initial design concept to display on the store shelf, a new eyeglass-frame design takes about 18 months, using traditional development techniques, according to Stratasys eyewear customers. Large eyewear manufacturers may create up to 150 new frame designs weekly (or thousands of new frames per year). Imagine cutting up to 15 months from the development and production cycle of every frame and shrinking time-to-market to eight weeks or less.

That’s what’s possible, say pioneering companies that tested a new eyewear rapid prototyping solution introduced from Stratasys (Nasdaq:SSYS), a global leader in applied additive technology solutions. Stratasys developed the VeroFlex Rapid Prototyping Eyewear Solution to help manufacturers dramatically improve time-to-market and cost-efficiency.

The Stratasys VeroFlex Rapid Prototyping Eyewear Solution

The new solution combines Stratasys’ unique J750 Multi-color, Multi-material 3D Printer with, VeroFlex, a new specially formulated 3D printing material for eyewear rapid prototyping needs. VeroFlex offers a unique combination of stiffness and flexibility, essential for a wide range of prototyping requirements. From initial concept iterations to complex multi-color and advanced texture models, to precise functional models for performance testing, VeroFlex offers a more durable and flexible material for demanding internal tests prior to tooling and production. This provides eyewear manufacturers the ability to deliver products over a year faster and lead with the latest market trends, while improving salability of its products.

The Stratasys VeroFlex Rapid Prototyping Eyewear Solution allows eyeglass designers to effortlessly 3D print accurate models of their designs, with all their intended aesthetic qualities, such as transparency, patterns and colorful designs, and may allow designers to shrink time-to-market from 15 months to 8 weeks

“The eyewear market continues to expand, driven by new technologies, demand for customization and growing addressable markets,” says Mike Vasquez, founder and CEO at the digital manufacturing consultancy, 3Degrees. “As the industry seeks to maximize its opportunity, Stratasys’ prototyping solutions for frames and eyewear accessories — which can cut time-to-market by upwards of 80 percent — will be an attractive solution that is able to deliver immediate value for users looking to make parts with a high degree of mechanical function and appearance.”

For functional performance testing, the Stratasys VeroFlex material stands up to key eyewear-maker evaluation, including drop tests, lens-mounting, stress tests and wearability tests. When used for design verification, the Stratasys VeroFlex material offers ultimate realism enabled by combining six new VeroFlex materials (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, White, Black, and Clear), and the ability to create and mix solid, opaque, transparent and color shades in addition to simulating true-to-life textures such as wood grains, leather, stitching, bone, carbon-fiber, and photo-realistic images.

For more information, visit the Stratasys VeroFlex Rapid Prototyping Eyewear Solution webpage.

Expanding Multi-material Functionality and Versatility for Advanced Rapid Prototyping and Tooling Applications on the Stratasys J750

Stratasys also announced today new material compatibility for its flagship J750 full color, multi-material 3D printing solution, delivering additional functionality and versatility for rapid prototyping and tooling applications. The PolyJet Agilus30 rubber-like material and Digital ABS Plus engineering-grade material can now be used with the Stratasys J750, expanding the range of applications that designers and manufacturers can 3D print.

Agilus30 material was used to produce these soft, rubber-like ear buds and molded interior for ideal look, feel and functional testing; solid case features carbon fiber-like texture in Vero materials. All pieces 3D printed on the Stratasys J750 full color, multi-material 3D printing solution.

A durable, flexible PolyJet photopolymer material (Shore A 30), Agilus30 features enhanced tear resistance. Models produced with Agilus30 can stand up to repeated flexing and bending, with features that accurately simulate the look, feel and function of seals, gaskets, living hinges, soft-touch parts, over molds and other flexible parts and rubber-like elements.

“We are using the new Agilus30 rubber-like material on our Stratasys J750 3D printing solution to simulate the installation and performance of rubber-like parts in our high performance vehicles and support equipment,” said Neil Oately, Head of Design and Development, McLaren Racing. “The superior tear resistance of the Agilus30 enables us to include highly flexible articulated interconnections within unit construction rigid mountings which we could not do previously.”

The newly available material on the Stratasys J750, Digital ABS Plus, enables users to build strong functional prototypes, manufacturing tools, molds (including injection molds), snap-fit parts for high- or low-temperature use, electrical parts, and product casings among others. It simulates a range of durable production plastics, including standard ABS, with an enhanced toughness and Izod Notched Impact (90 – 115J/m, 1.69 – 2.15 ft lb/inch).