Massivit 3D Prepares to Launch Large-Scale 3D Printer

Additive manufacturing (AM) is capable of producing nearly miraculous parts to drive design space in aerospace, automotive and other such forward-looking industries. So, of course, people decided to put that amazing tech to use printing out busts and bobbleheads. For some people, though, the ability to print out a miniaturized version of themselves wasn’t enough. Fortunately, an upcoming AM system has you covered.

Massivit 3D is preparing to launch a new era in AM with its Massivit 1800. In a time of desktop dwarves, Massivit is a giant, staking a claim in large-scale 3D printing by offering a system that can print (depending on your height) full-scale statues or the world’s largest bobblehead. Based in Israel, the new company has recently received financial backing from Stratasys, and has arranged distribution deals around the world.

"With Massivit, we gain exposure to markets and applications in which Stratasys is not active today such as visual branding, outdoor signage, landscaping and construction,” said Alon Elie, VP of corporate development and ventures at Stratasys. “We are excited about the possible applications of Massivit 3D's GDP technology in those markets and others, which we will jointly explore."

So what is all the fuss about? The Massivit 1800 is (appropriately) a large AM system with a build envelope of 1.5 x 1.2 x 1.8m (4 x 5 x 6 ft.) or 160 cubic feet (3 m3) in volume. The process used is called gel dispensed printing (GDP), and is similar in concept to fused deposition modeling. In place of plastic, however, the GDP process uses a UV sensitive material that hardens when exposed to UV light.

Given a basic knowledge of 3D printing, it would be easy to assume that a print job that large might take days to complete. According to Massivit 3D, the system is capable of a print speed of up to 1,000mm/39 in. per sec in x and y-axes. The example offered by the company is that it only takes five hours to print a human-sized statue. In addition to printing speed, Massivit 3D’s material doesn’t require support material, which results in easier post-processing and a reduction in waste.

Not offered is any idea about the quality of print. Massivit 3D makes no mention of resolution or layer thickness. That doesn’t necessarily raise red flags, but it is something to be aware of for potential buyers. You wouldn’t want your new life-sized bobblehead to have obvious strata, after all.

Below you’ll find a video about Massivit 3D.

Sources: PR Newswire, Massivit 3D