RS Components (RS), the trading brand of Electrocomponents plc — a global multi-channel provider of industrial and electronic products and solutions — is now offering the latest version of the MakerBot 3-D printer (the MakerBot Method), which has been designed to bridge the gap between industrial and desk-top 3-D printing.

RS (www.uk.rs-online.com) says a key feature of this equipment is its fast printing speed, which is up to two-times faster than other popular desk-top 3-D printers (based on a range of tests using the same layer height and in-fill density settings).

“Use of the printer can save days — or potentially weeks — compared to the time taken to out-source prototyping via other additive-manufacturing methods or CNC machining, for example.

Moreover, the Method has a circulating heated chamber, which controls the heat of each layer and delivers a dimensional accuracy of ±0.2mm, as well as improved layer adhesion and greater part strength.”

RS says the Method also comes with dual high-performance extruders with lengthened thermal cores and ‘optimised torque’ to maximise the material flow rate at high speeds.

Other specifications include: layer resolutions from 400 down to 20µm; maximum build volumes of 190 ¥ 190 ¥ 196mm for single-extrusion operation and 152 x 190 x 196mm for dual-extrusion processes.

The printer is compatible with a range of leading CAD software packages, including SolidWorks, Autodesk, CATIA, Rhino and TinkerCAD.