Advanced SL 5210 Formula Expands Range of Stereolithography Applications

Contact:
Mary Woods, Public Relations Mgr.
3D Systems
26081 Avenue Hall
Valencia, CA 91355
ph: (661) 295-5600 ext. 2508
fx: (661) 295-3404
email: woodsm@3dsystems.com

VALENCIA, Calif., February 26, 1998 - 3D Systems Corporation (Nasdaq - NMS:TDSC) today announced the commercial availability of Cibatool SL 5210, a new specialty resin designed for applications that rely on part stability under harsh environmental conditions such as extreme heat and/or humidity.

The latest in a stream of new resins from 3D Systems, SL 5210 is designed for use on the SLA 190 and SLA 250 rapid prototyping systems. Whether building functional prototypes for under-hood or under-water applications, SL 5210 is ideal for wind tunnel testing, high temperature silicone curing methods, or functional testing for automotive and consumer appliances.

In a flow test for an after-market automotive water pump, Airtex Products, a leading OEM of after-market automotive water and fuel pumps located in Fairfield, IL, found that highly intricate parts held close to 5,000 RPM under pressure of 48 gallons of water per minute when subjected to temperatures of up to 225° F.

"Because there were virtually no step lines in the SLA prototype made from the SL 5210 resin, we were able to more accurately gauge the performance of our new impeller design under simulated working conditions," says Kerry Austin, Product Designer for Airtex. "Owing to the strength, heat resistance, and water resistance of the SL 5210 resin, it may be possible to hold in excess of 7,000 RPM on future applications."

SL 5210 is fully capable of withstanding harsh conditions without sacrificing speed, surface finish, or ease of use. Due to the advanced vinyl ether/acrylate formulation, parts exhibit virtually no swelling or softening when exposed to extreme levels of moisture, and they produce exceptional sidewall surface quality.

SL 5210
Using 3D Systems' FAST WEAVE build style, SL 5210 also allows production of parts with no predip delay, increasing productivity levels with up to two times faster part throughput. Part clean up is also faster and easier.

One beta site user also reported major improvements over other resins when used in high-temperature, high-stress applications. "Rapid production of parts for a high-temperature environment is always a challenge," says Ed Kocialski, Senior Engineer, Model Design, Lockheed Martin. "I found the advanced properties of the SL 5210 resin better where it counts for my applications: flexibility, finish, and clarity are good; shrink rates are lower; and clean-up is very easy. Liquid soap and water with an alcohol rinse is all it takes."

As a specialty add-on resin, the SL 5210 fully complements the existing high-accuracy SL 5170 resin also used in both the SLA 190 and the SLA 250, expanding the range of applications for both these SL systems. "SL 5210 represents another leap forward in our aggressive resin improvement program," says Mervyn Rudgley, Director of Product Management for 3D Systems. "This resin is the first in a series of niche product materials which supports specific applications, such as high-temperature uses, and should broaden the number of applications utilized by our SL customers."

3D Systems also offers a Resin Upgrade Program that features substantial discounts on the purchase of new Cibatool materials. Information on this service is available by calling 1-800-889-2964.

3D Systems manufactures rapid product development systems that enable users to move from concept models to finished parts faster, at lower cost and at higher quality than traditional methods. 3D's equipment fabricates solid objects using input from CAD/CAM/CAE systems through the patented technologies of stereolithography for industrial applications, and multi-jet modeling for the design office. Major applications include concept modeling, rapid prototyping and rapid tooling for products in a wide range of industries including automotive, aerospace, medical, electronic and consumer product industries.