Fortify adds 3D printers to Flux line

Fortify has added two new printers and software to its Flux line, giving users greater access to advanced materials. Funds from the company’s recent $20 million equity round will be used to scale-up manufacturing of the printers for end-use part applications.

All Fortify 3D printers employ the company’s patented processing technology, CKM (Continuous Kinetic Mixing), which allows printing of heavily filled polymers while maintaining homogeneity. The company’s other proprietary technology, Fluxprint magnetic alignment, is now available on two printers.

The lineup features:

• Flux Core (new). The company’s baseline printer is recommended for processing viscous particle-filled resins that don’t require magnetic alignment. Applications include RF devices and electronic applications.

• Flux One (released in 2020). This is the baseline product with Fluxprint Z (Z-axis magnetic field) added. The system is designed to overcome the persistent problem of Z-axis anisotropy in 3D printing. Applications include mold tooling, jigs, and fixtures.

• Flux 3D (new). It adds the company’s Fluxprint (3-axis magnetic field) to the baseline Core printer, which aligns fibers in any axis throughout a part as it’s printed. Applications include heat sinks, heat exchangers, and high-performance industrial connectors.

In addition to the hardware solutions, Fortify has made available Flux Developer, a software platform usable with any Flux printer. The software reportedly lets users push the limits of material properties by opening access to all processing parameters. With this expanded processing window, users can control variables such as exposure time and intensity, material flow, resin temperature and viscosity, and build-plate mechanics as they develop and onboard new materials.