Stratasys Fortus 250mc

If you are considering an industrial 3D printer for a lab, business or classroom the Fortus 250mc may be the right choice for you. It is the least expensive 3D printer in the Fortus series.

The build volume is big enough to fabricate models for the explicit intent of visualization, and the ABSplus material is strong enough to 3D print working components as well as finished products in a wide variety of colors.

How the Fortus 250mc Works

Once you get the hang of changing the color cartridges, you can easily control the build parameters using Stratasys Insight software. 3D printing in thermoplastics eliminates the need to deal with powder sorting, as with other methods of 3D printing. Further, the Fortus 250mc doesn’t require any special ventilation to prevent exposure to noxious vapors, fumes or waste.

Building physical objects from digital files happens with ABSplus thermoplastic, layer-by-layer, using Stratasys’ proprietary FDM 3D printing. The catch? Well, there’s only one material, though of all the possible materials, ABSplus is versatile enough to print one-offs, prototypes and production grade parts. Plus you can print moving parts in one shot. Like other printers in the Fortus series, you will have to remove support material when printing a model that has an intricate figure or complex structural topology.

The Fortus 250mc in Action

Nikki Kaufman had a problem with her earphones. She could never find a pair that fit comfortably without falling out, unless it also felt like some tiny fist was being jammed in her ear. Shocked that there were no inexpensive options for customized earphones, she began to research the process. After finding that there were no alternatives to an expensive and lengthy process, she began to put together a business plan centered on producing fully customized headphones by taking advantage of 3D printing.

After a lot of planning and budget oriented decision-making, Kaufman chose the Fortus 250mc 3D printers to be the foundation of her new business called Normal. Part of the reason is that the Fortus 250mc is very easy to use and it requires minimal maintenance. Thanks to not needing ventilation, Kaufman found she could forego the cost of a specialized location by selecting the Fortus 250mc.

What Happens When You Walk Into a 3D Printer-Oriented Retail Shop Like Normal?

When you walk into Normal, in the heart of New York City, you are enveloped in a high-tech set of sleek industrial design. You can see H. R. Giger’s sci-fi creations hanging on the wall, featuring a giant conch shell in place of ears. It can make you feel as though you’ve stepped into an alternate dimension. But customers aren’t here for the artwork. They are here for a set of earphones that fit perfectly.

To that end, customers are also greeted with the sight of ten Fortus 250mc 3D printers around the perimeter of the beautiful store. Kaufman’s custom 3D printed headphone store displays its means of production as a key part of their visual presentation. By fully exposing their assembly process, Normal encourages sensory exploration of how Normals (the headphones) are fabricated.

Until the creation of Normal, the only way to get custom headphones was to pay health care professionals to take silicon molds of your ears, wait several weeks and pay top dollar. Using the Fortus 250mc 3D printers, Normal is able to provide premium, custom-fitting headphones 3D printed with ABS thermoplastic in seven custom colors for $199. In the U.S., this price includes tax, shipping and a personalized carrying case.