At Formnext 2018 last week, EnvisionTEC introduced its latest technology and what it believes to be the industry’s first DLP-based 3D printer to utilise a 4K projector with artificial intelligence.
Debuting the machine in Frankfurt, the Perfactory 4K builds on the company’s Perfactory family of 3D printers with a true 4K projector with UV optics tuned to 385nm wavelength offering an increased resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels. For comparison, its Perfactory 4 Standard model offers a projector resolution of 1920 x 1200. The system also leverages artificial intelligence in pixel tuning to deliver a high quality surface finish and is compatible with a range of materials including ABS, dental-specific and end-use resins.
The system is available in three variations including the P4K 62 with a 62 µm resolution and a build envelope of 160 x 100 x 220 mm, the P4K 75 with 75µm resolution and 192 x 120 x 220 mm build, and the P4K 90 with 90 µm resolution and 233 x 141.5 x 220 mm build.
“The P4K is the highest resolution advanced DLP printer with the largest build envelope and deploys artificial intelligence in pixel modulation to deliver the highest accuracy parts with the smoothest available surface finish in the 3D printing space,” EnvisionTEC CEO Al Siblani said. “This will deliver the next level of production-grade 3D printing solutions”.
In addition, this week EnvisionTEC also announced that it has been granted a patent to expand its capabilities with multi-material printing. The patent has been issued on the method and apparatus for making three dimensional objects from multiple solidifiable materials which will enable printing of multiple materials with different colours, translucency, and mechanical properties within the same part.
Siblani commented: “This is particularly interesting in the development of esthetically superior dental indications such as composite teeth for dentures with varying degrees of translucency.”
