04-29-2020: Stratasys introduced the J55
It was an innovative full-color PolyJet 3D printer featuring a rotating build plate
On April 29, 2020, in the midst of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, Stratasys unveiled its groundbreaking J55 photopolymer 3D printing system. The 3D printer not only offered full-color CMYK printing capabilities, but also introduced, for the first time, a rotating build plate — a major departure from traditional PolyJet systems.
Conventional PolyJet technology involves a printhead moving across the XY axes while depositing photopolymer resin on a build platform that moves incrementally along the Z axis, with each layer cured instantly by UV light. In the J55, the setup was entirely different — the printhead remained stationary, while the build platform rotated around its central axis, gradually lowering layer by layer.
The available build area totaled up to 1174 cm², with the printer utilizing 71% of the circular build plate. The maximum model height was 190 mm, and the maximum part length was 435 mm. For example, the system could print two rectangular blocks measuring 140 × 200 × 190 mm each, or five elongated blocks of 10 × 10 × 190 mm.
The printer supported CMYK color output, along with up to 1900 Pantone® validated colors. It used VERO family materials — Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, BlackPlus, and PureWhite — which, when mixed during printing, enabled a wide spectrum of colors. Just like with other printers in the J Series, users could achieve gradients, textures, and even simulate materials like wood or leather. The printer could also produce fully transparent prints resembling glass or semi-transparent colored parts by using VeroClear resin — all in a single build process, on one platform.
An intelligent UV LED curing system was also introduced, which required no calibration. The printer could hold up to 12 cartridges of model and support materials. It used SUP710, a soluble support material.
Stratasys also focused on safety by connecting the printer to an external ProAero air filtration system, which removed vapors and toxic particles generated during the resin processing.
At launch, the J55 was priced around $99,000, and the first units were delivered to customers in July 2020.
Source: www.stratasys.com & www.centrumdruku3d.pl
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