InterPRO Expanding Industrial Capabilities With Installation of UnionTech’s RSPro 800 SLA 3D Printer

On-demand 3D printing solutions provider InterPRO Additive Manufacturing Group, based in Connecticut, helps companies develop, prototype, and manufacture better products at a faster rate. The company, an additive manufacturing partner of Paperless Parts, is also a Value-Added Authorized Reseller for both HP and Markforged.

InterPRO offers many services that can help companies get control of their 3D printing needs, such as CNC, low-volume production of cast urethane and silicone parts, custom fabrication and expertly painted presentation models, and several different 3D printing technologies, including HP’s Multi Jet Fusion, FFF, PolyJet, and stereolithography (SLA).

SLA 3D printing, the very first 3D printing technology, is not only a prototyping solution as once thought. The technology, which has seen many innovations in applications, equipment, and materials over the years, is often used for tooling and patterns, like those used in investment casting, urethane molding, thermoforming, and injection molding.

Now, the company is expanding its 3D printing capabilities by installing its largest SLA 3D printer yet. The RSPro 800, with a build volume of 800 x 800 x 550 mm, was developed by Chinese 3D printer manufacturer UnionTech (Shanghai Union Technology Corp), which displayed the RSPro 800 at formnext in November.

Kevin Dyer, InterPRO’s CEO, said, “For twenty-two years InterPRO has helped companies use 3D printing to develop and manufacture better products faster. This expansion of our capabilities will help InterPRO produce the highest quality on-demand 3D printed parts and deliver them to customers faster.”

The industrial 3D printer can produce parts up to 40 inches long, with 0.05 mm layer thickness, and features a typical scanning speed of 6-10 m/second and a closed-loop system control.

UnionTech’s RSPro series was first introduced to the North American market two years ago, and the RSPro 800 was recently installed in InterPRO’s new 4,500 square foot Additive Innovation Center. The industrial SLA 3D printer is situated right next to the company’s growing Markforged 3D printer farm and its HP Jet Fusion 3D printing lab, and will help customers increase maximum part size and 3D printing speed.

“It is the first RSPro 800 to be installed in North America with several more to follow within the first quarter of 2018. The combination of open source design for materials and software, highly accurate part building capability and market leading cost-effectiveness makes the RSPro an attractive choice for adding production capacity,” explained Union Tech General Manager Jim Reitz.

The RSPro 800 weighs 2000 kg, with a granite base plate and a recoater rim, and works with Windows 7 and Windows 10 operating systems.

“The Union Tech RSPro 800 is capable of building very large and strong parts with high accuracy,” said Dan Straka, InterPRO’s General Manager. “This new addition is the result of a productive and growing relationship with two great partners: DSM and RP Support America.”

InterPRO has selected, based on customer demand, durable Somos EvoLVe 128 material by DSM. The high-strength material looks and feels almost identical to finished thermoplastics, and is perfect for tough, functional prototypes and snap-fit designs, thanks to heat deflection up to 52.3°C.

Scott Nordlund, Director of Sales for the Americas, said, “DSM Additive Manufacturing is excited be a part of this collaboration. By InterPRO bringing together a high-performance open-source machine and game-changing materials, they will be able to deliver innovative solutions to their customers.”

Parts made with Somos EvoLVe 128 are dimensionally stable and accurate, as well as easy to clean and finish.

“DSM Additive Manufacturing’s Holly Gregory has been instrumental in helping InterPRO increase the range of SLA materials we offer,” said Straka. “With her strong support we introduced EvoLVe to our customers last year. Demand for parts produced with EvoLVe grew quickly and we’re very excited to be running this material in our large RSPro 800.”

InterPRO will exhibiting its newest capabilities at the AMUG 2018 conference, which starts this Saturday, April 8th, in St. Louis, Missouri. In addition, the company will also be attending this month’s RAPID + TCT in Fort Worth, Texas. 3DPrint.com will also be attending RAPID + TCT.

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