BCN3D OMEGA I60

FAQS

• Will BCN3D Omega I60 have a dedicated material portfolio and is it compatible with third party filaments?

  Customers have three pathways to choose from when selecting a filament for their Omega I60:

  1. BCN3D Filaments: These materials have been carefully tailored to meet the most demanding application standards. They are designed to offer a well-balanced blend of material quality and printer performance. BCN3D provides pre-configured print settings for these materials in their BCN3D Stratos slicer software, based on extensive research and development characterizations. An Omega Open Filament License (OOFL) is not required for using these filaments.

  2. Open Filament Network for Omega: BCN3D works in partnership with material manufacturers to ensure the compatibility of non-BCN3D materials with the BCN3D Omega I60. This collaboration involves the development of specialized print profiles, which are then made accessible to users. These materials cater to niche applications with materials that offer unique properties like ESD, flame retardant, or food-safe. The pre-configured print profiles are integrated into the BCN3D Stratos slicer software and are a collaborative effort, developed by the filament manufacturer and rigorously tested and approved by BCN3D. The first filament references are expected to be published in Q1 2024. An Omega Open Filament License (OOFL) is not required for using these filaments.

  3. Third-party filaments: The Omega I60 is an open material platform that offers customers the flexibility to use custom materials and create their own printing profiles at no extra cost, thanks to a free license activation. An Omega Open Filament License (OOFL) is required for using these filaments. For more information: https://3d.bcn3d.com/bcn3d-omega-i60-omega-open-filament-license

• What does the Omega Open Filament License (OOFL) include?

  This free license unlocks Omega for printing with third-party filaments and also allows customers to personalize the print settings in BCN3D Stratos slicer software:

  1. Personalize print settings: The BCN3D Slicer software Stratos comes with locked print settings by default when printing with a BCN3D Omega I60 3D printer and with pre-configured print profiles for BCN3D Filaments and for the OFN filaments. The only adjustable option by the user is the part’s strength, which can be modified using a slider that ranges from Lighter to Stronger. This slider internally affects the print settings, including infill, top and bottom layers, and wall lines. BCN3D is implementing this measure to guarantee the optimal printing experience with Omega and to prevent users from making adjustments that might compromise their printing results. However, those customers that would like to experiment with print profiles, will be able to do so through the OOFL. By unlocking this, customers will be able to tailor print performance with BCN3D Filaments, Open Filament Network (OFN) Filaments and Third-Party Filaments, by customizing any print setting needed in BCN3D Stratos.

  2. Print with third-party filaments: This license will unlock Omega to print with third-party filaments, offering the customers the flexibility to use custom materials and create their own printing profiles.

  For more information: https://3d.bcn3d.com/bcn3d-omega-i60-omega-open-filament-license

• Which are the current and expected filaments for Omega BCN3D Filaments?

  Available

  · Omega Proto is the top choice for functional prototyping, producing precise parts with an ultra-premium surface finish. Omega Proto stands out for its exceptional versatility, providing remarkable durability, toughness, and chemical resistance. It surpasses PLA in strength, is more user-friendly than ABS, and delivers a surface finish superior to PETG. On top of that, Omega Proto offers great layer adhesion, creating stronger bonds between layers than what is achievable with typical prototyping materials.

  · Omega Resistant Nylon is a custom copolymer of PA6 and PPA formulated especially for Omega I60 and designed for the most demanding manufacturing applications. This innovative material boasts exceptional resistance to chemicals, wear, and solvents, making it ideal for challenging environments. With superior heat deflection properties and printability surpassing traditional ABS and nylons, Omega Resistant Nylon sets a new standard for durability and performance in industrial settings. In fact, in terms of mechanical properties, it’s closer to Ultem™ 9085 than it is to standard FFF Nylon-based materials.

  · Omega Tooling CF is a carbon fiber-reinforced PA6 copolymer filament designed exclusively for use with the Omega I60 printer. This specialized filament boasts remarkable strength, durability, thermal stability, and stiffness —characteristics you’d expect from carbon fiber materials. It excels in high-temperature environments, boasting a high heat deflection temperature (HDT) of 177ºC.

  Coming soon
  
  · Omega Impact: This material is ideal for outdoor, impact end-use parts. It is highly durable, making it suitable for tooling subjected to repetitive loading.

  · Omega Support: A breakaway support material that works with all the aforementioned materials. This allows for easy removal of supports without the need for dissolving, enabling the immediate use of printed parts.

  R&D stage

  Omega Flex TPU 95A, Omega Proto ESD, Omega Tooling CF HT, Omega Tooling CF ESD, Omega PPS HT, Omega Impact 74D

• When will BCN3D Omega I60 have high-speed print profiles?

  High-speed FFF printing represents an exciting prospect emerging in the market, offering customers the potential for accelerated part production. BCN3D is committed to making this capability available in our new industrial offering. This capability depends not only on the printer’s hardware but also on slicer, firmware, and material capabilities.

  Over the past year, BCN3D has successfully conducted tests of high-speed print profiles on the BCN3D Omega I60 3D Printer. However, with a primary focus on delivering the most reliable and consistent customer experience, the company has chosen to temporarily lock this feature via firmware. BCN3D recognizes the importance of prioritizing quality and reliability over speed. As a result, we are taking a conservative approach and gradually introducing future updates to make it available to our entire installed base.

  The company is diligently testing and refining it to ensure it aligns with our standards of reliability. We expect to unlock it via firmware and release the first version of high-speed printing profiles in Q1 2024 and a faster version in Q2 2024.

• Why is it necessary to have an active heated chamber?

  A heated chamber facilitates the manufacturing of engineering polymers by maintaining an ideal temperature for the printable part throughout the printing process. This temperature control ensures the uniform construction of the part, minimizing the formation of internal stresses. Heating the chamber promotes relaxation and eliminates internal tensions during manufacturing, effectively preventing issues like warping and cracking. All of this ensures the best dimensional accuracy and mechanical durability for the printed part. The BCN3D Omega I60 heated chamber can reach temperatures of up to 70ºC (158 ºF), making it ideal for printing materials such as ASA, PA, ABS and reinforced PA, among others.

• What is the function of the Material Operation System and what temperature can it reach?

  This integrated material module offers a complete all-in-one experience. The MOS allows you to control not only the humidity, but also the temperature. This ensures that filaments are dried, which has a tremendous impact on both the print quality and on the mechanical performance of the printed part. BCN3D’s Omega I60 MOS can reach up to 70ºC (158 ºF) and provides an RH below 10%.

• How does the autocalibration system work?

  This technology, which uses piezoelectric sensors, eliminates human dependence and guarantees correct first layer adhesion. It calibrates by measuring multiple points to adjust printing surface height (Z) and (XY) offset between nozzles. For Omega I60 with Independent Dual Extrusion System (IDEX), precise XY alignment is crucial. A dedicated square area outside the printing surface is used for toolhead alignment. The toolheads touch the sides with hotends, calculate positioning, and calibrate offsets to avoid crossovers or shifting layers in duplication mode.

• Which motion system does Omega I60 use?

  BCN3D Omega I60 utilizes a custom HAQ-XY Kinematics system. This motion architecture is considered one of the best systems for dual 3D printers and CNC machines, as it provides a lightweight, robust and precise approach. BCN3D Omega I60 equips an improved version of this kinematics by placing the pulleys in a slightly different position. As a result, the system experiences a significant reduction in twisting moments along the X axis during the printing process. These twisting moments are highly undesirable as they can have detrimental effects on the system’s performance and potentially lead to deformations in the X axis, thereby negatively impacting the quality of the printed parts.

• Is there a minimum working area required for printer installation?

  For printer operation: A minimum clearance of 20 cm (8”) is required on all sides of the printer, and except for the front, where a clearance of 80 cm (32”) is necessary to operate the printer.
  For technical service: A minimum clearance of 80 cm (32 in) is required on all sides of the printer for accessing the front, right, and rear panels, except for the left side, where a 20 cm (8 in) clearance is sufficient.

  

   

• Which upcoming tradeshows can you attend to get a firsthand look at the BCN3D Omega I60?

  Over the past few weeks, BCN3D, in collaboration with their sales partners, has showcased their latest product, the BCN3D Omega I60, at various trade shows. These include Advanced Manufacturing in Barcelona with their Spanish partner, Sicnova; 3D Print Paris with BCN3D’s sales partner in France, Imprimante3D; and Envitech in Brno with their partner, 3D Wiser.

  In the upcoming weeks, BCN3D is gearing up for an exciting period as they intend to introduce the printer in several new countries at prominent 3D printing trade shows, such as Metal Madrid, New-tech events in Tel Aviv, Mecspe in Bari, Formnext in Frankfurt, and Industrial Transformation in Singapore. More information: https://www.bcn3d.com/category/events/