What is a Z Corp. 3D Printer?

How does the 3D Printing technology work?

What are Z Corp.'s customers using the 3D Printers for?

How much training is required to use a Z Corp. 3D Printer?

What are the key advantages of the Z Corp. System?

Are leasing options available for ZCorp. 3D Printers?

How much do the materials cost?

What is the standard delivery time?

What is unique about the ZPrinter 310 Plus?

What are the key differences between the ZPrinter 310 Plus, 450 Colour and Spectrum Z510?

What materials will run on the ZPrinter 310 Plus?

Is the ZPrinter 310 Plus suitable for an office or classroom environment?

What is the color capability of the ZPrinter 310 Plus?

What is the ZCast process?

What are the advantages of the ZCast process?

What are the new molds made of?

What metals can be cast?

What is the tolerance and surface finish that can be achieved with the ZCast process?

Can I machine the castings produced?

What are the build materials made of?

Are the materials recyclable?

How strong are the parts?

What types of materials are available for infiltrating Z Corp. parts?

What is a Z Corp. 3D Printer? Back to Top
Z Corp. 3D Printers set the standard for fast, affordable, color 3D printing. The printers create real physical models direction from CAD and other digital data. The prototypes can be used for design review, mock-ups for form and fit testing and patterns for casting applications.

The use of prototypes allows product developers to win new business, develop better products and improve production planning.

How does the 3D Printing technology work? Back to Top
Z Corp. 3D Printers use a powder-binder technology invented at and patented by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to create parts directly from digital data. First, the 3D Printer spreads a thin layer of powder. Second, an ink-jet print head prints a binder in the cross-section of the part being created. Next, the build piston drops down, making room for the next layer, and the process is repeated. Once the part is finished, it is surrounded and supported by loose powder, which is then shaken loose from the finished part.

What are Z Corp.'s customers using the 3D Printers for? Back to Top
Z Corporation has over 1500 customers in a range of industries including automotive, footwear, consumer products, consumer electronics, packaging and education. Customers include Sony, Fisher-Price, NASA, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Adidas, Ford, and Disney.

Z Corp. parts are used as appearance prototypes for design review and a variety of secondary applications including patterns for casting applications, mock-ups for form and fit testing and prototypes to collect market feedback. In addition, Z Corp. parts can be drilled, tapped, sanded and painted, and electroplated to replicate the look and feel of the final product.

How much training is required to use a Z Corp. 3D Printer? Back to Top
Z Corp. Printers are safe and easy to operate. Installation and training typically takes one day and is conducted by an authorized Z Corp. service technician. In addition, the System comes with a complete user manual and software guide.

What are the key advantages of the Z Corp. System? Back to Top
Speed: A high throughput 3D Printer that saves both time and labor by providing one of the fastest model production times available. The speed of the Z Corp. System reduces the time it takes to create a part from one day to a few hours.

Low Cost: A low cost per printed part to support the needs of businesses of all sizes within budgetary constraints. The cost per printed part is a fraction of other rapid prototyping technologies, so you can produce a handheld part for about £2.00 in material costs.

Color: Z Corporation's 3D Printers can create parts from a full 24-bit palette of colors, resulting in multi-color prototypes. Full-color 3D printing accurately reflects design data including part labeling, feature coloring and texture mapping.

Are leasing options available for Z Corp. 3D Printers? Back to Top
Yes, Z Corp. has developed a relationship with several leasing companies offering many different options. Contact a regional sales representative for more information.

How much do the materials cost? Back to Top
Powder, binder and printheads are consumed in the part printing process. The strength of the part may be enhanced using a range of infiltrants. Depending on the geometry and infiltrant choices, the cost of these consumables range between £0.50 and £1.00 per 25mm cubic of finished part. Any unused powder can be fully recycled.

What is the standard delivery time? Back to Top
Units are generally available within four weeks of order placement.

What is unique about the ZPrinter 310 Plus? Back to Top
Z Corporation's product lines have gained strong adoption in the marketplace for their speed, low operating cost, ease of use and versatility. In the ZPrinter 310 Plus, those product attributes have been further enhanced. We have obtained feedback over the years from our customers and Partners and we have incorporated that feedback and additional design enhancements to make the ZPrinter 310 Plus the fastest, lowest cost and simplest 3D Printing solution available on the market today.

What are the key differences between the ZPrinter 310 Plus, 450 Colour and Spectrum Z510? Back to Top
The ZPrinter 310 Plus outputs in monochrome while the 450 Colour and Spectrum Z510 output in colour. The Z510 also has a larger work area.

What materials will run on the ZPrinter 310 Plus? Back to Top
The materials available on the ZPrinter 310 Plus are: high performance composite, snap-fit, elastomeric, direct casting.

Is the ZPrinter 310 Plus suitable for an office or classroom environment? Back to Top
Yes, the ZPrinter 310 Plus operates cleanly and quietly, making it suitable for an office environment. Many of our customers operate the 3D Printer in an office or classroom environment.

What is the color capability of the ZPrinter 310 Plus? Back to Top
The ZPrinter 310 Plus uses a binder colored with standard food dyes. The binder colors the part as it is being printed, producing monochrome parts in any one color.

What is the ZCast process? Back to Top
The ZCast process involves directly casting metals in molds printed on Z Corporation's line of 3D Printers. We are offering the ability to directly print the mold cavity or mold inserts. Traditionally, these molds need to be created by first producing a pattern (or pattern set) which would then be used to create the molds. In the case of sand casting, a set of patterns is used to create the impressions in the sand. In the case of investment casting, wax patterns are needed to then create a ceramic mold. With the ZCast process, we are offering the option to skip the pattern step.

What are the advantages of the ZCast process? Back to Top
The production of prototype castings using conventional methods often can take several weeks and be prohibitively expensive. These constraints often limit the number or preclude the production of metal prototypes during the development process. The ZCast process can offer the opportunity to significantly reduce the time required to obtain metal castings while also reducing the cost. Specific time and cost savings will depend on the size and complexity of the desired part, but can be substantial for many customer needs. For many parts, castings can be produced in as little as 1-2 days. The ZCast process also provides the freedom to produce more complex castings that previously were difficult to produce using conventional tooling methods. We recommend that the customer talk directly to Z Corp. and its partners to evaluate how this process may help them.

What are the new molds made of? Back to Top
ZCast powder is a blend of foundry sand, plaster and other additives suitable for casting low temperature metals.The material is available for all of Z Corporation's current systems, the ZPrinter 310 Plus, 450 Colour and the Spectrum Z510.

What metals can be cast? Back to Top
ZCast 500 is a powder of set that allows casting of aluminum and other lower temperature metals like zinc and magnesium. Longer term, the goal will be to allow printing with materials that more closely mimic the properties of foundry sand and thus allow casting in ferrous metals.

What is the tolerance and surface finish that can be achieved with the ZCast process? Back to Top
Customer parts produced have yield results that mimic traditional sand casting finishes and tolerances.

Can I machine the castings produced? Back to Top
Yes. The cast metal part will have similar metallurgical characteristics as metal parts made using conventional casting methods.

What are the build materials made of? Back to Top
We currently offer several material systems for use with Z Corp. 3D Printers:
High performance composite
Snap-fit
Elastomeric
Direct casting
Investment casting
The binder is a water-based binder.

Are the materials recyclable? Back to Top
Yes, the unused powder can be recycled, further reducing the cost to print a part.

How strong are the parts? Back to Top
The parts can be given added strength and different material properties depending on the needs of the customer. When parts first come out of the Printer, they can be handled carefully and examined. If you want added strength and durability, the parts can be infiltrated with a variety of materials.

What types of materials are available for infiltrating Z Corp. parts? Back to Top
Once the part has been printed, it is about 50% porous and can be infiltrated to produce a range of material properties. Infiltrant options include water (NEW), a variety of waxes, urethanes and resins, depending on the desired part characteristics.