We visited IGUAZU 3D Solution Center which exhibited various kinds of 3D printers and learned about those 3D printers.

IGUAZU 3D Solution Center is a showroom where XYZ PRINTING and 3D Systems 3D printers are displayed.

There are many kinds of 3D printers sold by both manufacturers and some of their prices are over 10 million yen.

Place: 3D Solution Center

▲The Exterior view of the IGUAZU 3D Solution Center

In researching the various types of 3D printers, we decided to visit the site because we wanted to see an industrial 3D printerIndustrial 3D printer is one that is actually used by companies as prototypes or final product printing machines. Industrial 3D printers have better printing accuracy than home-use printers, and some of them are priced over 10 million yen. that would actually be used in a company.

Our goal is to see a wide variety of 3D printers and their printed materials up close and learn about their features and mechanisms.

▲Picture of inside the facility

Place: 3D Solution Center

Mr. Machida, IGUAZU 3D Solution Center, introduced 3D printers and gave us a tour of the facility. (December 4th, 2022)

▲Our team members receiving an explanation

Place: 3D Solution Center

First, in the conference room on the third floor, we were given a briefing on the IGUAZU 3D Solution Center and the 3D printers sold by XYZ PRINTING.

• About IGUAZU



IGUAZU is the number one distributor in Japan for two manufacturers, XYZ PRINTING and 3D Systems.

XYZ PRINTING is a Taiwan-based manufacturer mainly engaged in contract manufacturing of 3D printers. Many 3D printer manufacturers come from venture companies, but XYZ PRINTING is a very rare case in which a major company manufactures and sells 3D printers.

On the other hand, 3D Systems is an American venture company originally started by a single engineer. It is known as the first company in the world to commercialize 3D printers.

• About XYZ PRINTING



XYZ PRINTING is selling the " da Vinci " series of 3D printers. The” da Vinci” series was originally branded for personal use, but in 2017, the company launched a line of industrial 3D printersIndustrial 3D printer is one that is actually used by companies as prototypes or final product printing machines. Industrial 3D printers have better printing accuracy than home-use printers, and some of them are priced over 10 million yen..

They sell the "PartPro" as a 3D printer for prototype printing for companies and the "MfgPro" for final productsThe final product is one that is actually sold to the consumers, not a prototype or sample. Functionality and durability are required. printing.

All part creation and assembly lines are performed by companies within the same group, which means less outsourcing and the price of the unit tends to be lower.

• About "3D Printer"



The Fused Filament FabricationFused Filament Fabrication is a method that draws each layer and stacks them by extruding resin from the heated nozzle and changing the relative position between the stage and nozzle. is the most widely used type in the world. However, when it comes to industrial use, StereolithographyStereolithography is a method that draws each layer and stacks it by solidifying liquid resin with a UV laser., MultiJet PrintingMultiJet Printing is a method that draws each layer and stacks it by jetting resin from inkjet head and are solidified them with a UV laser., and Selective Laser SinteringSelective Laser Sintering is a method that draws each layer by emitting a laser to the flattened powder and solidifying them., which are capable of reproducing precise and curved surfaces, are widely used.

The Stereolithography methodStereolithography is a method that draws each layer and stacks it by solidifying liquid resin with a UV laser. is often used to fabricate prototypes, such as to check the appearance of a product or to check its reaction, allowing various ideas to be tried out in a short development period.



Place: 3D Solution Center

On the other hand, Selective Laser SinteringSelective Laser Sintering is a method that draws each layer by emitting a laser to the flattened powder and solidifying them. is used for printing final productsThe final product is one that is actually sold to the consumers, not a prototype or sample. Functionality and durability are required. such as a jigA jig is an auxiliary tool used to process a part. Increasingly, 3D printers are being used for production..



Provided by 3D Solution Center

Ten years ago, most customers used 3D printers to make prototypes. However, in the past few years, about half of their customers have told them that the customers want to use their 3D printers to print final productsThe final product is one that is actually sold to the consumers, not a prototype or sample. Functionality and durability are required..



Place: 3D Solution Center

More recently, some customers want to use 3D printers to print mass-produced parts.

Lightness is also important in fields such as airplanes and aerospace. With ordinary subtractive manufacturingSubtractive manufacturing is a processing method that removes unnecessary portions from existing materials, as opposed to a 3D printer that builds models from scratch., it is not easy to hollow out the inside of a solid object, but with a 3D printer, this can be easily achieved.

There are exhibits of StereolithographyStereolithography is a method that draws each layer and stacks it by solidifying liquid resin with a UV laser. and 3D objects printed with 3D printers on the 3rd floor.

There were exhibits of StereolithographyStereolithography is a method that draws each layer and stacks it by solidifying liquid resin with a UV laser., Fused Filament FabricationFused Filament Fabrication is a method that draws each layer and stacks it by extruding resin from the heated nozzle and changing the relative position between the stage and nozzle., and MultiJet PrintingMultiJet Printing is a method that draws each layer and stacks it by jetting resin from inkjet head and are solidified them with a UV laser. on the 2nd floor.

▲Picture of 2nd floor.

Place: 3D Solution Center

There were Selective Laser SinteringSelective Laser Sintering is a method that draws each layer by emitting a laser to the flattened powder and solidifying them. and Binder JettingBinder Jetting is a method that draws each layer by emitting binder from the head to the flattened powder and solidifies them. It is, in some cases, categorized as MultiJet Printing. on the 1st floor.

Provided by 3D Solution Center

▲Picture of 1st floor.

We learned at IGUAZU 3D Solution Center about many methods of 3D printers we had never seen. In addition, there were a lot of printed objects, and we could feel something different among those products.

Thank you to the IGUAZU 3D Solution Center for the interview.

Here are the pictures of 3D printers and printed objects taken at IGUAZU 3D Solution Center.