Braintree Printing Adds 3-D Printing Services
BRAINTREE, MA—Braintree Printing, a provider of digital and offset printing, is reportedly the first printer in New England to embrace 3-D technology with the recent purchase of a Dimension 1200es 3-D printer by Stratasys. In just minutes, customer digital files become physical 3-D objects. Prototypes, customized parts, architectural and medical models and more can be easily produced by the 3-D printer.
Braintree Printing owner Jim Corliss views his latest embrace of 3-D technology as a natural next step in the industry’s future. “It’s an exciting technology and we’re excited to share it with our customers,” he said of the company’s new 3-D printer. He added that 3-D printing will be a boon to designers, engineers, medical professionals and manufacturers, saving them time and money on product development.
3-D printing is a type of additive manufacturing that builds three dimensional objects through a layering process. Unlike printing a document the traditional way, ink on paper, 3-D printers apply layers of plastic on a build tray to produce accurate and functional 3-D models. The 3-D printer works hand in hand with a 3-D CAD file which is imported into Catalyst EX Software. The software slices and orients 3-D models and plots a precise deposition path for the Dimension 3-D Printer to follow.
At Braintree Printing’s plant, customer service representative Robin Clark has been testing the new 3-D printer. She has created an assortment of 3-D products, from an entire chess set to screws, chains, gears, wheels, a human heart and a toy dragon. “It’s amazing what this printer can do,” she noted. The Dimension 3-D printer can produce models as large as 10x10x12˝ in multiple colors. Braintree Printing's YouTube video shows a tiny replica of a boat being printed.
“3-D printers are a game changer in new product development,” said Corliss. “Our customers will be able to perfect their products before they go to manufacturing—all at the touch of a button.”
