Stratasys Objet Connex multi-material 3D printing technology integral to production of iconic RoboCop suit and helmet created by Legacy Effects
Stratasys Ltd. (Nasdaq: SSYS), a leading global provider of 3D printing and additive manufacturing solutions, today announced that the company's multi-material Objet Connex 3D printing technology has played a leading role in the production of the iconic RoboCop suit created by Legacy Effects for the main character in this year's blockbuster movie.
(Logo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140611/690940-a )
(Logo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140611/690940-b )
Tasked with realizing the 3D designs from the Robocop production designer for the ultra-sleek RoboCop suit was Hollywood special effects company, Legacy Effects. Their use of Stratasys 3D printing technology has helped bring to life a number of recognizable movie characters on the big screen.
Using Stratasys' high resolution Objet Connex multi-material 3D printing technology, Legacy Effects produced every aspect of the RoboCop suit - from helmet, to boots - as master mold patterns. These pieces were then molded and cast into other materials to create variants of the suit depending on the requirements of each scene.
In addition, some versions of the suit used in the movie were composed of as much as 90 percent actual Stratasys 3D printed parts. For example, the striking visor, which forms part of the helmet on the black version of the RoboCop suit, features a gleaming red strip; the entire visor used in the movie is 3D printed with Stratasys transparent (VeroClear) material.
Stratasys 3D printing technology the only option for reproducing fine detail
According to Jason Lopes, Lead Design Engineer, Legacy Effects, RoboCop's chest-armour piece perhaps best exemplifies how the use of 3D printing technology overcomes certain challenges that can affect production methods.
"First, in terms of the size of RoboCop's chest piece specifically, only Stratasys' 3D printing technology would allow us to print something at the actual size; the part virtually fills the entire build-tray," Lopes explains.
"Second, the same part comprises a blend of smooth areas, as well as other areas that feature an extremely high level of detail, such as the police badge and other logos, which we needed to retain for the molding process. There isn't a technology currently available beyond that provided by Stratasys that affords us this level of intricate detail, together with the hard surface modeling of the shells all together in one print."
In addition to creating the Robocop suit, Legacy Effects was also involved in 3D printing both master molds and prototype parts for the 'Exo-suit' featured in the movie. These prototype pieces included fully-functional spring-operated fingers that were printed in a single build using multi-materials on the company's Stratasys Objet Connex 3D Printers.
Smoother workflow and greater flexibility over traditional production methods
Using Stratasys' 3D printing technology the team at Legacy Effects is able to work much faster and more efficiently than it could in the days when it produced parts by hand.
"Doing everything by hand meant that we couldn't run tests as it would have taken forever," recalls Lopes. "Also, 3D printing allows us to work in symmetry, which enables us to build an entire left side of a suit, then mirror it and output the right side as well, all from one file with the click of a button. You can't do that by hand."
Despite the recent economic downturn still having an impact on studio budgets, high expectation from customers requires shorter production times, regardless of the all-to-commonplace eleventh-hour changes. For Lopes, 3D printing's ability to speed up processes, as well as the capability to make late changes has revolutionized the way Legacy Effects operates.
"This is where 3D printing comes to the fore by meeting such pressures head on," says Lopes. "If we see something's not working, or we're asked to make a design change, we can make another iteration, go to an open 3D printer and be printing two simultaneous tests within an hour. We go to lunch, come back and it's done. It doesn't get better than that!"
"Legacy Effects' use of multi-material 3D printing as its solution of choice is indicative of how the technology is becoming increasingly integral to filmmaking," says Bruce Bradshaw, Director of Marketing, Stratasys North America. "The ability to rapidly 3D print all materials together in one single print run meets the film industry prerequisite to save time and money. But the real show-stealer is Stratasys' ultra-fine 16 micron-layer 3D printing. In the special effects world, fine detail and true-to-life models and parts are the industry standard and our Connex multi-material 3D printing technology continues to be a top performer among designers and engineers."
Stratasys Ltd. (Nasdaq: SSYS), headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Rehovot, Israel, is a leading global provider of 3D printing and additive manufacturing solutions. The company's patented FDM®, PolyJet™, and WDM™ 3D Printing technologies produce prototypes and manufactured goods directly from 3D CAD files or other 3D content. Systems include 3D printers for idea development, prototyping and direct digital manufacturing. Stratasys subsidiaries include MakerBot and Solidscape, and the company operates the RedEye digital-manufacturing service. Stratasys has more than 1900 employees, holds over 550 granted or pending additive manufacturing patents globally, and has received more than 25 awards for its technology and leadership. Online at: http://www.stratasys.com or http://blog.stratasys.com
Stratasys and Objet are registered trademarks, and Objet500, Connex, Connex3, PolyJet, Digital Materials, VeroCyan, VeroMagenta, VeroYellow, TangoBlack, and TangoBlackPlus are trademarks of Stratasys Ltd. and/or its subsidiaries or affiliates.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain information included or incorporated by reference in this press may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements are often characterized by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "continue," "believe," "should," "intend," "project" or other similar words, but are not the only way these statements are identified. These forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the company's objectives, plans and strategies, statements regarding the expected performance and impact of our products, statements that contain projections of results of operations or of financial condition (including, with respect to the MakerBot acquisition) and all statements (other than statements of historical facts) that address activities, events or developments that the company intends, expects, projects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties. The company has based these forward-looking statements on assumptions and assessments made by its management in light of their experience and their perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors they believe to be appropriate. Important factors that could cause actual results, developments and business decisions to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include, among other things: the company's ability to efficiently and successfully integrate the operations of Stratasys, Inc. and Objet Ltd. after their merger as well as MakerBot after its acquisition and to successfully put in place and execute an effective post-merger integration plans; the overall global economic environment; the impact of competition and new technologies; general market, political and economic conditions in the countries in which the company operates; projected capital expenditures and liquidity; changes in the company's strategy; government regulations and approvals; changes in customers' budgeting priorities; litigation and regulatory proceedings; and those factors referred to under "Risk Factors", "Information on the Company", "Operating and Financial Review and Prospects", and generally in the company's annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2013 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and in other reports that the company has filed with the SEC. Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made in the company's SEC reports, which are designed to advise interested parties of the risks and factors that may affect its business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. Any forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date hereof, and the company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
