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3D Printing and Rapid Prototyping

The 3D printing process has been in existence since the early 1990s and now provides modern businesses with a fast, cost effective, and sustainable option for product development and low volume batch manufacturing.

The 3D Printing Suite at University of Suffolk is based in the University’s Innovation Labs (iLabs) and is offered as a resource to businesses of any size who require 3D printing at any stage from design to production across healthcare, creative or manufacture.

Medical and Healthcare: Our printer can print multiple materials within a single print job, offering a variety of possibilities. For example we are able to print complex parts or models to promote innovations in radiology for clinical applications , treatment planning , simulation of procedures and medical and patient education. In addition, our state-of-the-art printers can also handle biocompatible materials for dentistry and other applications.

Creative and Design: A 3D printed object makes your designs more tangible. A scale model of the final project can be a valuable way of communicating design ideas to colleagues and clients. With Polyjet technology, parts can be printed with a variety of textures, smooth three colour gradients, or sleek transparencies.

Product prototyping and low volume manufacture: Fine tune designs in a matter of weeks rather than months, and at greatly reduced cost. Mitigate the cost of making expensive metal injection moulds for low volume batch manufacturing by making limited use prototype injection moulds to ensure mould quality.