Japanese 3d printers

3D Printing | Technology | SOLIZE

Driving the 3D Printing Technologies That Will Revolutionize Manufacturing

3D Printers continue to evolve by the day, and are heralded as a revolution for manufacturing. Although they have been readily available for less than a decade, SOLIZE recognized the potential of 3D printers more than 30 years ago and introduced the technology to Japan. This made us the first service bureau for them in the country. Since then, we have worked to refine 3D printing technologies, and developed proposal competencies not seen outside of SOLIZE. SOLIZE will also continue this evolution into the future.

3D Printing by an Industry Pioneer

In addition to introducing 3D printers to Japan, SOLIZE has worked for more than 30 years in 3D printing. We own the most high-end 3D printers of any company in Japan. Although 3D printers have made evolutionary leaps in recent years, customer demands have grown to match in complexity, meaning both flexibility and technical skills need to be addressed.

For example, SOLIZE contributes to development process improvements with added value via reduced costs. We do this though measures such as producing peripheral components as well as those ordered, assembling the set, and delivering as a unit. Furthermore, we also develop molding conditions for new materials and offer proposals using them, in addition to component production.

We can offer these services thanks to our years of experience and proven record with 3D printing technology. Of course, this is also because of our high-quality engineers working on production sites, who are capable of handling 3D printers easily. Our engineers are born to take on challenges and produce new proposals from the field each day.

3D Printing Transforms Manufacturing

The manufacturing world now faces a new revolution. While past 3D printers were limited to prototype-level output, the technology’s potential now encompasses the creation of final commercial products.

The US and Europe have already entered the 3D printer era, engaging in small-lot mass production of aircraft and automotive components. Hopes are high for 3D printers as a new manufacturing technology for final products, given that they can easily produce each item to order via components, according to customer requirements. Using 3D printing instead of conventional die-casting mass production methods for small-lot components can vastly reduce total production costs, including initial investment and running costs. At SOLIZE, we also incorporate customization via plastic and metal 3D printing.

Metal 3D printing specifically is predicted to enter its own in Japan over the next several years. However, in order to produce final products, it still faces issues with ensuring manufacturability and sufficient experience and data for component functionality measurement and strength assurance. With eyes on the coming era, SOLIZE is working to overcome these issues and evolve 3D printing engineering to the next stage.

Our Expertise and Experience Enable Production Impossible with Conventional Methods

3D printing is an innovative technology capable of providing the entirely new sorts of value as shown above. However, with it being a relatively new technology, many customers do not know what factors to consider when using it. At SOLIZE, we engage in a joint research and development-model manufacturing process with our customers, providing support for data creation, proposals for materials, and more.

For example, in some cases, we have worked jointly with customers on automotive prototype development. Conventionally, this part would be welded together from multiple other components. Yet here, we have unified it using metal 3D printing.

Development for even complex, difficult components is possible thanks to our strengths at SOLIZE: 3D printing and data generation technologies. Through these technologies, we contribute to massive lead time reductions for components that would have taken three months to complete in the past, finishing them in as little as a week.

Endless Potential: Giving Form to Needs Through Imagination The Endless Possibilities of Imagination Given Form

SOLIZE has made undeniable progress as a pioneering presence in 3D printing, but amid fierce competition, we must remain hungry for new technological acquisitions. We aim to identify customer needs through dialog, and to tie technological gains such as advanced metal 3D printing, heat, surface and other secondary processing technologies, new materials, and increased molding sizes to proposals to customers.

In practice, SOLIZE offers customers a diverse range of proposals. In terms of the core components of the power electronics that drive the internal combustion engine and IoT technology revolution, control of the heat generated by system operations is a key theme. Using 3D printing technology, SOLIZE has succeeded in producing complex shapes that were challenging with conventional processing, such as intricate flow-channel geometry and microscopic fin geometry. This advance holds the potential to bring about system performance upgrades.

Furthermore, component weight reduction is also a key issue at present, in order to achieve energy- and cost-saving aims. SOLIZE offers proposals using 3D printing technology on this theme, such as optimized materials and latticed designs for component internal structures. For example, switching to a lattice structure for components surrounding the engine of an artificial satellite reduced its weight from 800 grams to less than half, at 350 grams.

3D printing has endless potential. Taking to the stage in an exciting scene as manufacturing undergoes a fundamental shift, engineers at SOLIZE work daily to produce new innovations. We do this to make a new kind of manufacturing, and to change the world we live in.

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Japanese additive manufacturing is rising » 3dpbm

Stay up to date with everything that is happening in the wonderful world of AM via our LinkedIn community.

For some reason—maybe due in part to a distorted perception caused by the language barrier—Japanese companies have never seemed to truly embrace additive manufacturing as a production option. That may now be changing for good. The Japanese industry has some of the largest automotive manufacturers in the world, as well as some giant materials manufacturers and hundreds of aerospace companies. The fact that one of these companies, IHI Aerospace, stated that “We are now strongly promoting the use of 3D printers [for the manufacturing of a 22N rocket thruster utilizing hydrazine]” is what prompted us to connect some dots. Until recently all these industries did not seem to see Japanese additive manufacturing companies as capable of offering truly practical production solutions. Companies like Solize, 3DCeram, IHI, Mitsubishi and nTopology are proving otherwise.

By AM we mean in particular some of the more “traditional” AM technologies, such as resin-vat- and powder-bed-based processes, those where the benefits of geometry are clearest and that can offer the most advantage in short batch manufacturing of highly complex, DfAM parts. The overall impression has always been that Japanese companies—often run by older generations traditionally-minded executives—would not be willing to bet on AM for the future of manufacturing until it could be a safe enough bet.

Has that time really come? If it has, it’s not that clear-cut yet. The Nikkei estimates the Japanese 3D printing market compound annual growth rate (CAGR) to be 9.1% between 2017 and 2022, when the market is expected to be worth about $430 million. This is, however, just a tiny percentage (0.1%) of the overall Japanese manufacturing industry, which generates about $400 billion yearly.

First, let’s be clear. Japan was and still is one of the first adopters of AM for prototyping purposes. Italian stereolithography hardware manufacturer DWS actually began commercializing its first machines in Japan in the 1990s. To this day, the country remains one of its primary markets, with entertainment and toy industry giants such as Namco-Bandai as early customers. We also know that Stratasys has sold a number of machines and services to Nissan for prototyping and tooling. In fact, thanks to Autodesk’s APAC Product Specialist Peter Rogers, we now know that 3D printing has been alive and well in Japan, just like elsewhere, with companies such as Solize Corporation providing rapid prototyping, tooling and design services with multiple industrial 3D Systems machines. Now the company – just like in many other countries around the world – has expanded its range of machines to include HP MJF hardware for production runs. Autodesk – of course – has a strong presence there as well.

In addition, two of the largest DED hardware manufacturers in the world, DMG Mori (offering laser metal deposition and hybrid LMD) and Mazak (LMD and WAAM), are Japanese companies. However, DED technologies are a derivation of subtractive machine tools and—while they do provide an entry point into AM—they represent a more conservative approach in terms of part geometry. Recently DMG Mori moved increasingly closer to the AM world by partnering with Siemens’ AM division and by acquiring Realizer, one of the first German manufacturers of metal PBF systems (including for precious metals). That’s another indication that something is moving in the right direction.

DMG Mori’s best selling LASERTEC 65 DED and Hybrid DED system.

Two more Japanese machine tool firms, Matsuura first and, more recently, Sodick, event went as far as introducing a hybrid metal PBF technology, the only companies in the world to do so. Hybrid metal PBF is a very difficult process to implement as it requires interrupting the already delicate PBF process to subtractively finish the part during the build. The idea is that these types of machines can be used almost exclusively to produce tools, as it would be extremely challenging to certify the quality and repeatability of a final part undergoing such a complex process. So, again, while they do use a powder bed approach for complex geometry, these machines cannot be considered true direct production solutions.

For many years, it almost seemed as if the only company to do additive manufacturing in Japan was Matsuura. The consumer AM craze only marginally touched Japan, with a number of FabLabs emerging and online AM service provider Kabuku attempting to offer an alternative to the emerging Shapeways, iMaterialise and Sculpteo of the West but the project never really took off.

Testing the AM waters

More recently, certain new initiatives and companies seemed to indicate that Japanese companies were more seriously looking at AM for manufacturing. Not every one of them met with success. Ricoh was the first to venture into the industrial polymer SLS hardware business but its efforts have met with some difficulties in establishing this area of business globally.

A ceramic part 3D printed with RICOH’s AM technology.

The company then began looking into metal binder jetting materials (mainly aluminum) and hardware but these projects remain very much developmental at this time. Another Japanese printing technology giant and early 3D printing patent holder, Canon, announced plans to enter the market with internally developed 3D printing hardware—first with a polymer and subsequently with a ceramic 3D printing technology—but has not yet done so (although the company distributes 3D Systems hardware via its UK subsidiary). Perhaps one of the most interesting projects undertaken by Canon in the 3D printing area just emerged recently through it fully owned subsidiary Canon Ecology Industry as the company—which specializes in recycling and upcycling used Canon 2D printing equipment such as toner cartridges and copier parts—began producing PC-ABS and HIPS filament with these parts. This also remains, however, a fascinating project still limited in scope at this time.

The TADA EZ300 EBM 3D printer.

The Mitsubishi group also seems constantly on the verge of seriously entering the AM market. The conglomerate launched several different initiatives into AM however some of these remain experimental. Most of the Mitsubishi group of companies’ activities in AM are carried out through Mitsubishi Chemical with a focus on AM materials. The company first acquired major filament manufacturer Dutch Filaments in 2018, and then launched a series of ventures aimed at developing both the large format extrusion and photopolymer resin materials markets.

Another company in the group, Mitsubishi Electric, is focusing on AM hardware, mainly by developing a new “dot-forming” metal 3D printing technology, and—although it took a ridiculous amount of research to find it—by introducing into the market the first EBM system developed in Japan by its fully owned-company TADA Electric. Co. Japan’s first Electron Beam metal 3D Printer, the EZ300, is also one of the very first real competitor’s to GE Arcam’s current segment dominance. According to TADA, it provides an industry-leading modeling speed of 250cc/h* and a proprietary rod-shaped cathode producing the industry’s longest heating time of 1,000 hours.

3DCERAM’s ceramic AM production line.

One of the most significant initiatives into AM was carried out by the Sinto Group, the world’s largest manufacturer of foundry equipment, when it acquired French ceramic stereolithography hardware manufacturer 3D Ceram. Combining the French firm’s advanced capabilities for innovation with the Japanese group’s financial power is enabling a significant scaling up of activities within the ceramic AM market (although it is not yet fully clear how much of that is relative to the Japanese market).

The new wave of AM

Now a new wave of AM seems to be emerging. At least two AM shows now take place in Japan yearly: TCT Japan in Tokyo and Additive Manufacturing Expo in Osaka. Although very few Japan-based AM hardware or AM materials manufacturers are listed among exhibitors, these shows are offering a window for distributors or divisions of foreign AM companies to target the Japanese industrial firms attending the larger manufacturing fairs surrounding both events.

3dpbm‘s AM company index only lists a few Japan-based AM service providers (again this may be due in part to the language and cultural barrier). One is JAMPT, a service providing metal AM services with a battery of 7 machines (as of 2019) including EBM technology. Another is PRISMADD Japan, which is a joint venture between Yamaichi Special Steel (that recently became a distributor of nTopology software in Japan) and the PRISMADD Group. In fact, other newly signed distribution deals are also an indicator that something is moving.

nTopology is making a big push for the Japanese market.

US-based generative design software company nTopology recently signed another distribution deal for Japan with NTT DATA’s new XAM venture. XAM represents a significant investment for the large NTT Data group towards building the AM market in Japan by, among other things, selling AM hardware from EOS and metal AM powders from Alloyed.

Yet another interesting and recently signed distribution deal saw AM post-processing experts PostProcess Technologies sign its first distribution deal in Japan with K. K. Irisu (also a distributor of high-temperature filament extrusion hardware from Italian manufacturer Roboze). Another high-temperature filament extrusion system manufacturer, Canada’s AON3D, is now distributed in Japan by 3D Printing Corporation. The company driven by CEO Alexander De Vore, is the prototype of the modern 3D printing firm, offering DfAM consultancy, machine sales (with Markforged alongside AON3D) and manufacturing services (including robotic extrusion of CFRP materials).

The Japanese market’s apparent growing appetite for AM also attracted another Italian firm, the large Italian service provider Beam IT, that opened a new commercial agency to target the energy, motorsport, aviation, space and defense sectors in the country. Yet another AM company, a young and rapidly growing hardware manufacturer, Velo 3D, signed a distribution deal with Tayo Nippon Sanso Corporation, which is part of the Mitsubishi Group. The Velo3D systems, along with other systems, is now installed in the Advanced AM Room research center that Tayo Nippon Sanso just opened as a core hub for the research and development of AM technologies.

Beyond the AM horizon

It doesn’t end here: the Japanese market is now opening up to some fringe areas of 3D printing as well. In fact, a Japanese firm called Cyfuse Biomedical is a pioneer in the bioprinting sector leveraging an innovative “Micro Needle Array“ Technology that enables 3D tissue fabrication using cell and spheroids only. Swedish firm CELLINK, also a bioprinting hardware manufacturer, opened its Japanese office at Kyoto University.

More recently, Japanese construction company Aizawa Concrete Corp. began offering advanced construction 3D printing services leveraging CyBe’s robotic extrusion technology. Whilst in the field of advanced continuous composites additive manufacturing, sector pioneer Arevo Labs is partnering with ACG Inc. to bring its MaaS business to Japan.

Sanitation room 3D printed by Aizawa for the Indian market, using CyBe technology.

In electronics 3D printing, CMK Corporation, one of Japan’s largest manufacturers of printed circuit boards (PCBs), recently acquired a Dragonfly 3D printer from segment leader Nano Dimension. Also, nano 3D printer hardware manufacturer Nanoscribe installed its first system in Japan at KEIO University.

Looking farther down the line, a company called Open Meals is even considering the idea of bioprinting fish cells to produce true “8-bit sushi”. Perhaps even more “peculiar” but at the same time much more real in terms of commercialization, are the 3D printed smart dolls created by popular blogger Danny Choo. He used 3D printing to create the business from scratch and is now meeting with much larger demand worldwide. His dolls are clearly reminiscent of cartoon characters from Japanese digital culture and his company’s growth is an indication of a successful implementation of 3D printing in production.

As manufacturing, through 3D printing, finally and fully embraces digital culture, Japanese companies will undoubtedly continue to rise… And shine.

*This article was updated on December 9th 2020 to include 3D Printing Corporation and Solize.

Japan will ban the export of 3D printers to Russia - RBC

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3D Print EXPO Japan Tokyo 2016 New 3D Technology Show / Sudo Null IT News

Last week, we were lucky enough to attend the Tokyo 3D Technology Showcase held at Tokyo's Big Sight International Exhibition Center at the same time as several other nanotechnology events, robotics, alternative energy sources and other advanced developments.

Since the announcement of the exhibition, my colleagues at REC and I have unanimously agreed that this event will be a great opportunity to appreciate the development of 3D printing technology in Japan, as well as to understand more clearly how things are business in the 3D industry in Asia, which new players are preparing to enter the market soon in the European market.

Video report from the show:

0113

This is the first stand that every visitor of the exhibition comes across. Stratasys has invested a lot of money to get the most visually advantageous place at the show. Although it is worth giving the guys their due: they are trying - now they are promoting two brands at once, which were clearly presented on separate displays (unlike, for example, the exhibition in Frankfurt, where the main emphasis was placed on the Strasys brand).

2. Mutoh Engineering: local giant (Japan)

Mutoh Industries is an ordinary Japanese conglomerate, a large industrial group with the widest range of activities, including 3D printing technology, which is the responsibility of the Mutoh Engineering division. At the exhibition, they presented a new line of personal 3D printers represented by FDM and SLA devices.

However, it should be noted that 3D printers from Mutoh Engineering are quite low cost. We have not found any reviews regarding these devices, however, there is information that it is almost impossible to purchase them outside of Japan.

In short, a typical Japanese approach with a focus on the domestic market. I don’t know how correct it would be to say this, but there is a feeling that Mutoh is too big and influential conglomerate, which is forgiven for a lot, but it takes advantage of it: it has taken its small niche in the 3D industry, but draws its main income from completely different areas of industry.

Also of note, at the show, Mutoh Engineering shared space with 3D Systems, which presented a 3D printer called the ProJet 460plus to the public, while Mutoh presented the Value Arc MA 5000-S1, (which looks more like a bulky metal closet than on a printer) and a 3D scanner of the human body. The second, however, did not have a completely marketable appearance.

New 3D Systems ProJet 460Plus 3D Printer

3. XYZPrinting: Made in Taiwan and ready to take on the world

Without a doubt the most “friendly-minded” booth at the show.

Taiwanese manufacturer XYZPrinting made a good impression at CES held in Las Vegas a few weeks earlier. In Tokyo, they only confirmed their ambition to become the undisputed leader in the consumer market segment.

Visitors to the booth were greeted by super-friendly company assistants who, among other things, spoke good English (very rare, believe me - at most booths, company representatives did not look at all friendly and, in addition, could not speak a word of English ...).

Devices with such curious names as Da Vinci AIO, Da Vinci Junior, plus the new SLA device: all as one on the displays, in all details - as a result, a lot of attention and interest from the public. I appreciated the 3D scanner in action, which, although I did not find it particularly convenient to use, gave brilliant results. In its price range, this portable 3D scanner using Intel sensors is unmatched yet.

4. Polymaker: Pushing Innovation (China)

The guys at Polymaker have developed a special biopolymer fiber with properties similar to ABS and PLA polymers. Among other things, their filaments are odorless, biodegradable and can be used at very low temperatures.

5. BuildTak (USA)

And in the immediate vicinity of the Polymaker booth, there is another interesting company called BuildTak - a company aimed at solving the most pressing problem that every user of 3D devices faces sooner or later. The BuildTak team has created the “ideal 3D printable surface”, a product that is a plastic shield that is mounted on the stand of the FDM 3D printer and provides maximum stability for the printed object. As they say: everything ingenious is simple. So here is an excellent solution to the actual problem. It seems that American companies have nevertheless gathered their will into a fist and look to the future with confidence. Their presence at the exhibition in Tokyo only confirms this thesis.

6. bonsai lab (Japan)

bonsai lab introduced the BT01+ 3D printer, a truly kawaii baby with great potential. More recently, this Japanese company presented another device called FabPod, which for some reason was absent from the exhibition in Tokyo. It should be noted that bonsai lab is working closely with Polymaker in the development of low-temperature fibers that will take 3D printers to a new level of development. Definitely one of the most interesting exhibitors with a cool manga-like device.

7. Shining 3D: Game-Changing 3D Scanners (China)

EinScan-S by Shining 3D

Shining 3D presented two new 3D scanners - Einscan-S and Einscan-Pro . Both devices were clearly presented on the displays. Sunny and Rebecca, the representatives of Shining 3D at the show, gave me the opportunity to work with the Einscan-Pro color scanner, and I must admit that I was simply amazed by the results of its work.

EinScan-Pro by Shining 3D

Einscan-Pro is very light (only 0.8 kg.) and has an incredible scanning speed - in just 15 seconds I "shot" a human face in color. The software also raises no objections. The only drawback is that the scanner does not see dark places well, by analogy with ARTEC, but these are trifles. Among other things, devices from Shining 3D are very flexible in use and can be operated in several configurations (as a handheld device, on a tripod or turntable).

Handheld 3D scanner EinScan-Pro

8. MASS PORTAL (Latvia)

MASS PORTAL is a manufacturer of 3D devices from Riga (Latvia). I did not meet any representatives of the company, but I got acquainted with their development - the Pharaoh ED printer. The appearance of the device causes only positive feelings. A solid machine enclosed in an elegant metal frame. The models I have seen are also pleasing to the eye. The only downside is the very high price tag.

9. German RepRap printer and filament from Recreus (Germany)

The German company RepRap introduced several devices at once, including X1000, X400 and X350 3D printers. The presentation was supported by their Japanese distributor IK Works. The same booth featured a new filament from Recreus, a Spanish manufacturer of 3D printing fibers that became famous for the release of Filaflex, a material based on thermoplastic rubber. It seems that the guys do not stand still and expand their product line. Recreus is also developing its own 3D printer. Such versatile Spaniards!

10. Smile Link (Japan)

A new 3D printer manufacturer from Japan has unveiled a device called the Nt100 to the public, although it should be noted that they also manufacture filament. The interest is caused by the fact that their Smile Link works only through the OctoPrint cloud technology, which is standardly built into the Chrome browser. Wireless 3D printer, just imagine! All my attempts to start a conversation with representatives of the company ended in failure - no response. Obviously, they are not particularly interested in having their devices tested by dark horses from "foreign" companies. The verdict is: you need to learn Japanese...

11. Ninjabot (Japan)

Another Japanese brand. Ninjabot has unveiled one DLT-80 miniature 3D printer and one NJB-777 large 3D printer. Basically, this company produces FDM devices, machines that use the well-known PRUSA I3 architecture. The NinjaBot team seemed very nice to me. Plus, they make great machines!

New NinjaBot NJB-777

12. 3D printing filament from Kyoraku (Japan)

Kyoraku is a Japanese industrial conglomerate that has just entered the 3D market with its filament. I have not been able to test the fiber in practice, I have not found any reviews - but now, at least, we know about their existence!

13. Rhombus (China)

Rhombus 3D printer

From Hong Kong with love. Like NinjaBot, Rhombus presented 2 models - large and small. The large one was equipped with two extruders, due to which it could print two objects at the same time.

14. Carima (South Korea)

SLA 3D printer from Carima

A very interesting South Korean manufacturer. I have already come across several devices from Carima intended for corporate clients. Carima has built a reputation for their ultra-fast printing technology, which they call C-CAT (an acronym for Carima-Continuous Additive 3D Printing Technology). Their latest development, the DP 110E, also uses this revolutionary solution, which allows their devices to run up to 400 times faster than other similar printers.

15. Moment 3D printer (South Korea)

3D printer from Moment

Another representative of South Korea with a very interesting brand is a desktop 3D printer from Moment. Appearance 5, but expensive.

16. iFACT (South Korea)

Hercules LCD 3D printer from iFact. The add-on in its upper part also serves for printing

And, perhaps, the last brand for today - again from South Korea - iFact with a line of SLA 3D printers. We have not been able to find any information about the company on the Internet, but by all indications - they make serious cars for serious business. The brochure that I got hold of contains information about the device with dimensions of 340x1

9000,0002000
00 9000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,0002 , I can conclude that our visit to the Tokyo exhibition turned out to be very eventful. First of all, we realized what a gulf lies between Western and Eastern approaches to doing business. At the exhibition, we often had to feel like strangers, who would not be allowed even close to individual stands. However, much here, probably, can be attributed to the language barrier.

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