I came into the world of 3D printing in 2010 when the market was almost entirely based around prototyping. I started working at a Service Bureau that utilized several technologies and quickly concluded that PolyJet was the easiest, most effective technology for a company to bring in-house. Having 110w power, low heat, and a relatively clean, quiet printing process coupled with a small learning curve and multiple materials make PolyJet a no-brainer for quick-turn, realistic prototypes.
We now offer five technologies through Stratasys. All the technologies have come a long way in the last 13 years, but I still count PolyJet as the easiest, best, and most fun way for a company to bring high-quality prototyping in-house.
J35 Pro
The J35 Pro is the baby of the line-up; it’s a compact, affordable, and easy-to-use tabletop printer. It prints in grayscale, 3-model materials at a time. It supports a range of materials, from rigid opaque to elastomeric to Digital ABS Plus. The printer has 1,174 cm² of build area on a circular build tray. The J35 Pro is ideal for prototyping and producing small to medium-sized parts quickly and efficiently. Do not let the diminutive size of this printer fool you—it is a high-end prototyping system.
J55 Prime
The J55 Prime is a more advanced version of the J35 Pro – it has the same build tray, but can print in full-color, with 5-model materials at a time. The J55 Prime is ideal for producing high-fidelity models and full-color prototypes. With its 18-micron build layers, quiet operation, ease of use, high quality color capability, and dependable service, this printer is a favorite in our office.
The J55 also has medical and dental solutions, the J5 MediJet and J5 DentaJet respectively.
- J5 MediJet – A healthcare solution that can print biocompatible materials.
- J5 DentaJet – A dental solution that can print everything from crown and bridges to TrueDent, an FDA cleared (Class II) resin developed for 3D printing dentures. This is the newest printer to arrive at our Irvine Tech Center.
J826 Prime
With the J826 Prime, we’re taking another step up. The J826 can print 7 colors simultaneously, including Vivid and UltraClear. The printer also has a larger build tray, with a maximum model size of 255 x 252 x 200 mm. If you need the extended material choices that come with a 7-model material printer and high-resolution, camera-ready models and a 10 x 10” build area is big enough, this printer is a tremendous value.
J850 Prime
The J850 Prime is the flagship PolyJet printer from Stratasys. It offers a large build size, performance, speed, and quality. This printer has several print options—high quality, high mix, high speed, and super high speed. Speed, accuracy, surface finish, vibrant, Pantone matching colors, and multi-material print – all in one package.
The J850 supports a wide range of industries and has specialized variations options to fit specific needs.
- J850 Digital Anatomy Printer – A healthcare solution which can print biomechanically realistic parts. Unique materials such as TissueMatrix, BoneMatrix, GelMatrix and RadioMatrix make this a potentially life-saving printer for the healthcare industry.
- J850 TechStyle Printer – This is a fun one… it can print directly onto a wide range of fabrics. Its use has shined at recent Fashion Weeks, with incredible designs from D-House and Ganit Goldstein. The printer has interesting applications outside of fashion; I’ve seen quite a few impressive automotive interior designs in model cars.
Ultimately, the choice between these printers will depend on budget and the specific needs and applications of the user. To chat with me, or another member of our team to determine what’s right for you, give us a call at 949.474.9222.
Meet Mark Dewey
Meet Senior Sales Engineer, Mark Dewey. Mark began his career at Purple in 2010 and took a brief break in 2014 to work for Stratasys. In 2017, Mark flew back to the Purple nest and is back to representing the most advanced technologies on the market, from Stratasys, Onulis, Materialise, ProtoMAX, eviXscan, and Roland. What Mark enjoys most about working at Purple is the ability to offer customers a well-rounded experience with engineers, beautiful parts, and endless additive solutions.
Out of the office, Mark enjoys spending time with his family and dog, hiking, kayaking, and engaging in various water sports. If you haven’t had the chance to meet Mark yet, be sure to connect with him on LinkedIn!
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