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Market Leader 3D Systems Unleashes New Cibatool SL 5530HT Delivering The Highest Heat Resistance Of Any SLA Resin
Contact: VALENCIA, Calif., December 9, 1998 - 3D Systems Corporation (Nasdaq NMS: TDSC) today announced the availability of Cibatool SL 5530HT, a new high temperature resin that greatly expands the range of applications for its SLA Series solid imaging systems, and brings the total number of resins offered for the SLA product line to twelve. Designed specifically for use with the SLA 350, 3500, and 5000, SL 5530HT is ideal for under-the-hood automotive applications, wind tunnel testing, mold-making, and functional testing requiring exceptionally strong resistance to heat, water or solvents. This new high temperature resin has successfully performed in market tests for applications requiring thermal capabilities over 200° C (392° F), an increase of 100° C (180° F) over current high temperature resins presently on the market. "This is a true breakthrough material," said Mervyn Rudgley, 3D's director of product management. "It will cause customers to reconsider applications that were previously thought impossible." Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works Division found the new material capable for creating stereolithography molds for their "hot-melt process," which requires a resin that can withstand temperatures of 232° C (450° F). "Until now, we relied on a manual, multi-step process which was labor intensive and time consuming," said George Sherrick, stereolithography lab manager. "SL 5530HT enabled us to eliminate many of these steps, while maintaining the high degree of accuracy necessary for this process." General Motor's Delphi Harrison Unit also achieved excellent results testing a squirrel cage fan built with SL 5530HT for an automotive air conditioning unit. "We performed wind tunnel testing at 121° C (250° F) and the part held up remarkably well," said Jim LaRocca, coordinator of rapid prototyping. "We had previously used a silicone mold to create a prototype part in urethane. Instead, SL 5530HT offered us a time and money saving option. We could build the part on the SLA and go straight to testing." According to Dr.Yan Meng, rapid prototyping engineering manager for INCS, Inc., a service bureau and distributor in Japan, "SL 5530HT has high temperature resistance unprecedented for a stereolithography resin. It offers excellent water resistance, fast building speed, and fabulous part quality. We consider it a first class resin on a global scale." SL 5530HT is the latest development in a 10-year joint effort by 3D Systems and Ciba Specialty Chemicals to develop advanced photopolymers for stereolithography. 3D is the exclusive worldwide distributor of Ciba's photopolymer products produced under this development partnership. 3D Systems provides solid imaging products and services that let users move quickly from three-dimensional designs to finished parts, at a significantly lower cost and higher quality than more traditional methods. The company's systems - through its patented stereolithography and 3D printing technologies - fabricate solid objects from digital input, substantially cutting the time and costs of bringing new products to market. 3D Systems was founded in 1986 and is recognized as the world leader in solid imaging. To obtain additional information about SL 5530HT and other 3D Systems products and services, the telephone number is 805-295-5600, or (toll free) 888-337-9786; fax number is 805-257-1200; e-mail address is moreinfo@3dsystems.com. For investor information, please call 3D Systems' shareholder communications service at 800-757-1799. |
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