Raise3D Unveils Three Machines for Agile Manufacturing

Raise3D Unveils Pro3 Series & E2CF: Advanced FFF 3D Printers for Professional and Carbon Fiber Manufacturing

Raise3D, a recognized leader in the realm of Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) additive manufacturing, recently made a significant splash in the professional 3D printing market with the introduction of its latest innovations. The company proudly unveiled its new professional machine range, the Pro3 Series, alongside the groundbreaking E2CF 3D printer, specifically engineered for the precise production of carbon fiber parts. This strategic launch signifies Raise3D’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in additive manufacturing, offering solutions that cater to the evolving demands of industrial and professional users. To ensure a robust market entry across Europe, Raise3D is leveraging its long-standing partnership with OKM3D. This key European distributor is already facilitating pre-orders for these three cutting-edge FFF solutions through its extensive network of specialized resellers. This article delves into the distinct characteristics and anticipated impact of these new 3D printers, exploring how they are set to redefine standards in quality, efficiency, and material capability.

In 2018, Raise3D set a new benchmark with the launch of its highly acclaimed Pro2 range, which significantly elevated market expectations by delivering machines that offered larger build volumes and enhanced printing speeds. Since then, the landscape of professional 3D printing has continued to evolve, and so have user expectations. Today, the industry prioritizes solutions that offer greater flexibility, superior repeatability, and improved productivity. Responding directly to these shifting demands, Raise3D has developed its new lineup with a clear vision: to enable more agile and efficient manufacturing processes. These new printers are not merely iterative updates but represent a thoughtful response to customer feedback and a proactive step towards implementing highly adaptable manufacturing workflows that streamline production and foster innovation.

Raise3D Pro3 Series 3D Printer

The Pro3 Series, engineered for precision and productivity in professional 3D printing (photo credits: Raise3D)

The Pro3 Series: Advancing Small-Batch Production with Enhanced Precision

Mirroring the successful architecture of its predecessor, the Pro2 line, the new Pro3 Series introduces two advanced dual extrusion FFF printers designed for precision and efficiency in small-batch production. This series includes the Pro3, featuring a generous print volume of 300x300x300 mm, and its larger counterpart, the Pro3 Plus, which boasts an even more expansive build envelope of 300x300x605 mm. Both models have undergone significant redesigns, with their features meticulously refined to deliver an unparalleled user experience and achieve superior repeatability in part production, all while upholding Raise3D’s signature commitment to exceptional print quality.

A cornerstone of the Pro3 Series’ innovation is its integrated modular extruder system, featuring two nozzles that can be quickly and effortlessly swapped. This interchangeable head design dramatically reduces downtime for maintenance or material changes, enhancing operational flexibility. Furthermore, the printers incorporate automatic bed calibration, a crucial feature that ensures consistent and accurate first layers, eliminating manual adjustments and improving overall print success rates. To simplify the post-processing workflow, a flexible printing plate is included, allowing for easy and damage-free detachment of finished parts. The Pro3 Series also features an advanced Air Flow Manager, an intelligent system designed for optimized heat dissipation and air circulation within the build chamber. This precise thermal control is vital for printing with a wide array of engineering materials, ensuring uniform part cooling and minimizing warping or other common printing defects.

Adding another layer of sophistication, the Pro3 Series integrates an intelligent EVE assistant. This innovative feature acts as a virtual co-pilot, capable of identifying common printing problems in real-time and proactively suggesting actionable solutions. Beyond troubleshooting, EVE also reminds users of crucial maintenance tasks, ensuring that machines operate at peak performance, reducing unexpected downtime, and significantly extending the optimal service life of the printer. This predictive and preventative approach to maintenance embodies Raise3D’s dedication to maximizing user productivity and minimizing operational hurdles.

In terms of material compatibility, the Pro3 Series is engineered to be highly versatile, supporting a broad spectrum of thermoplastics that extrude at temperatures below 300°C. This includes popular filaments such as PLA, ABS, TPU, ASA, PETG, and many more, making the printers suitable for a vast range of applications from rapid prototyping to functional end-use parts. The extensive material support, coupled with the dual extrusion capability, allows users to experiment with different material properties or print with soluble support structures for complex geometries. Both the Pro3 and Pro3 Plus have been meticulously designed with a focus on delivering a simple, ergonomic, and highly intuitive user experience. Each machine is equipped with an integrated HD camera, allowing users to monitor print jobs remotely and in real-time, crucial for quality control and efficient workflow management. Additional features enhance reliability and convenience, including an end-of-filament detector that prevents failed prints due to material depletion, a security mode for restricted access, an energy-saving mode for reduced operational costs, and a robust backup and resume printing function that ensures project continuity even in the event of a power failure. These thoughtful additions underscore Raise3D’s commitment to creating dependable and user-friendly professional 3D printing solutions.

Timmy Schramm, the CEO of OKM3D, expressed profound enthusiasm for the new series, stating, “Raise3D has put an enormous focus on listening to its customer base feedbacks. As a result, the Pro3 series was born, with all the state-of-the-art and innovative features needed to make additive manufacturing a true accessible, easy-to-use production system. It truly is a machine that has been developed to be extremely versatile with production quality, repeatability and uptime in mind. We believe that the Pro3 will have a big impact on Additive manufacturing production as it is easily scalable with the Raise3D ecosystem ideaMaker and RaiseCloud. We are very proud to distribute Pro3 as it really is bringing more added values than the FFF Systems present on the market nowadays.” This statement highlights the Pro3 Series’ potential to transform additive manufacturing into a more streamlined and scalable production method, leveraging the power of Raise3D’s integrated software ecosystem.

Raise3D Pro3 Series User Experience

The Pro3 series offers an easier, more intuitive printing experience for the user, enhancing productivity (photo credits: Raise3D)

The Raise3D Pro3 and Pro3 Plus printers are currently available for pre-order, priced at €4749 and €6249 respectively, before tax. For interested parties seeking to integrate these advanced FFF solutions into their operations, contacting OKM3D is the next step. OKM3D will facilitate direct connections with their local partners across 20 European countries, ensuring seamless access and support for these innovative machines.

The E2CF Printer from Raise3D: Unleashing the Power of Carbon Fiber Composites

In today’s competitive industrial landscape, there’s an escalating demand for lightweight, high-strength parts capable of withstanding diverse mechanical stresses and environmental conditions. This critical need is driving many industries towards advanced composite materials, with carbon fiber emerging as a frontrunner. Carbon fiber offers an exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, boasting strength comparable to steel while being significantly lighter. Recognizing this growing trend and the specific requirements of professionals and manufacturers working with these materials, Raise3D has developed the E2CF 3D printer. This specialized FFF machine is meticulously engineered to create parts infused with carbon fiber, providing an accessible and efficient solution for robust component production.

The E2CF printer is built with an Independent Dual Extruder (IDEX) system, providing enhanced flexibility for printing complex geometries, multi-material components, or utilizing soluble support structures. It features a generous print volume of 330×240×240 mm, accommodating a wide array of industrial applications. A standout feature of the E2CF is its integration of silicon carbide nozzles. These advanced nozzles are specifically chosen for their exceptional resistance to wear and superior thermal conductivity. This design choice is critical, as carbon fiber filaments are notoriously abrasive and can quickly degrade standard brass nozzles. The silicon carbide composition ensures consistent performance and extended nozzle life, enabling the machine to reliably process highly abrasive materials without compromising print quality or requiring frequent component replacements. This makes the E2CF a truly industrial-grade solution for demanding composite applications.

Raise3D further supports the E2CF’s capabilities with its proprietary material ecosystem, recommending the use of its PA12 CF filament, which is reinforced with short carbon fibers, along with its dedicated support material. This optimized combination ensures perfect synergy between the printer and the material, leading to superior part quality and performance. Looking ahead, Raise3D is committed to expanding its material offerings for the E2CF, with plans to develop additional high-performance filaments such as PPS CF, PPA CF, and PET CF. The strategic goal behind this expansion is to provide users with a comprehensive range of materials, each tailored to meet specific application requirements for strength, rigidity, thermal resistance, and lightness, thereby broadening the E2CF’s utility across various demanding industries.

Raise3D E2CF 3D Printer for Carbon Fiber

The E2CF printer, purpose-built for high-performance carbon fiber reinforced parts (photo credits: Raise3D)

The new Raise3D E2CF printer represents a truly complete and integrated solution specifically designed to address the unique challenges of printing with fiber-filled materials. This encompasses not only the reinforced extrusion system but also critical features like ultra-abrasion-resistant nozzles that endure the rigors of composite printing. To preserve material integrity and ensure consistent print quality, the E2CF includes two independent drying boxes. These dedicated compartments are essential for controlling the moisture content of hygroscopic filaments like carbon fiber, preventing material degradation and print defects. Furthermore, Raise3D offers a comprehensive range of technical filaments with associated support filaments, alongside readily available and optimized profiles within its ideaMaker slicing software. This seamless integration ensures an effortless and successful first print, making advanced carbon fiber 3D printing accessible even to those new to composites.

Edward Feng, Raise3D’s Global CEO, eloquently summarized the vision behind the E2CF, stating that “The global effort to manufacture more energy-efficient equipment has fuelled a high demand for high strength-to-weight ratio parts. Carbon-fiber is a great material choice for such parts, but its use in 3D printing was, until now, considered expensive. With the release of the E2CF, Raise3D fills the market gap for a desktop-level 3D printer optimized for fiber-reinforced filaments and will make carbon-fiber 3D printing affordable and simple at last. We are confident this is a relevant step in our mission to lead the promotion and implementation of Flexible Manufacturing Solutions used for low-volume or agile production, by removing another obstacle to the adoption of additive manufacturing as an alternative to traditional production.” This powerful statement underscores how the E2CF democratizes access to carbon fiber 3D printing, making it a viable and cost-effective option for a broader range of applications and industries. The E2CF printer is also available for pre-order at €3,999 excluding tax. You can do so by contacting OKM3D, who will connect you with one of its local partners across 20 countries in Europe.

Raise3D’s latest innovations, the Pro3 Series and the E2CF, represent a significant leap forward in professional FFF 3D printing. By combining advanced features, robust engineering, and a keen understanding of market needs, Raise3D continues to empower industries to embrace flexible manufacturing solutions. What are your thoughts on these new 3D printers from Raise3D? We invite you to share your feedback in a comment below or join the discussion on our LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter pages! Don’t forget to sign up for our free weekly Newsletter here to receive the latest 3D printing news directly in your inbox. You can also explore all our insightful videos on our YouTube channel.