3D Systems Corporation (NYSE:DDD) announced Tuesday that it has strengthened its ProJet 5500X 3D printers with two new elastomeric materials. ProJet 5500X is used to 3D print multi-material, large parts in a single build. The new materials will further accentuate the 3D printing process for engineers and designers. The new elastomeric materials are VisiJet CE-BK (black) and VisiJet CE-NT (natural translucent).
New materials to prevent breakage and failure
The new VisiJet materials offer extreme durability and flexibility, preventing breakage and failure, which have often been a big challenge for users. According to 3Dprint.com, the materials are guaranteed to withstand the pressure even when harshly manipulated through contorting and stretching. It should prove useful when 3D printing items like gaskets and pipes.
The new elastomeric materials are a combination of 3D Systems’s ABS-like plastics that are used to produce a variety of materials for some of the most challenging 3D printing projects. Introduced at EuroMold last year, ProJet 5500X is the first multi-material 3D printer that combines two bases to produce a wide variety of materials.
3D Systems chairman buys 5,000 shares
Earlier this week, 3D Systems settled a two-year old patent lawsuit with 3D printing startup Formlabs. The Rock Hill-based company had sued Formlabs for allegedly violating eight of its patents related to stereolithography (SLA). Terms of the settlement were not disclosed, but the lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice, meaning it was over, once and for all. 3D Systems founder Chuck Hull invented stereolithography way back in 1980s.
Separately, 3D Systems chairman Walter Loewenbaum disclosed in a regulatory filing that he purchased 5,000 shares of the company’s common stock on Nov.28. He bought those shares at an average price of $35.23 for a total transaction value of $176,150. Before that, he had purchased 26,479 shares of the company in mid-November.
3D Systems shares gained 1.67% on Tuesday to close at $34.13. The stock has declined more than 63% year-to-date.
