MakerBot Unveils New Solution to Simplify the ABS 3D Printing Workflow with the METHOD X Platform

New MakerBot RapidRinse™ fast-dissolving support and ABS-R materials aim to make 3D printing industrial applications with ABS just as easy as printing with PLA

MakerBot, a Stratasys company (Nasdaq: SSYS), today introduced a new game-changing solution that significantly simplifies 3D printing with ABS polymer material by effectively streamlining workflow steps and reducing the need for more equipment and additional costs. Developed for high performance on the MakerBot METHOD X® and METHOD X Carbon Fiber 3D printers, the new MakerBot RapidRinse™ and ABS-R materials are suited to print a range of industrial applications to specification, from manufacturing tools to production parts.

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RapidRinse is a new and unique patent-pending, fast-dissolving support material designed to eliminate cumbersome and costly post-processing procedures. RapidRinse easily dissolves in warm tap water and does not require caustic chemicals, typical for some soluble support materials. RapidRinse can dissolve significantly quicker than other high-temperature soluble support materials under the same conditions.¹ Without the need for solvents, engineers no longer need to purchase additional post-processing equipment. RapidRinse’s water soluble properties are intended to make it an easier and safer support material to work with, leaving behind minimal residue.

ABS is one of the most in-demand, yet difficult, materials to successfully print on a desktop 3D printer due to its propensity to shrink, warp, curl, or crack without the right conditions. ABS-R is a new ABS formulation that provides superior printing reliability and performance for consistent, repeatable ABS prototypes, tools, and parts. ABS-R is optimized to work with the new RapidRinse fast-dissolving support material to deliver the best print quality and user experience.

The METHOD X’s heated chamber, a patented VECT™ (Variable Environmental Controlled Temperature) 110 Technology, combined with proprietary RapidRinse soluble supports are designed to deliver incomparable ABS parts as easily as PLA but with superior material properties. Printing with RapidRinse on METHOD X can produce dimensionally accurate ABS parts of ±0.2mm (±0.007 inch)², giving engineers more confidence in creating parts to spec.

“Our goal with METHOD has always been to make industrial 3D printing easy, reliable, and accurate on a desktop 3D printer. With RapidRinse and ABS-R, we are continuing to deliver on that promise,” said Nadav Goshen, CEO, MakerBot. “METHOD is the only desktop 3D printer in its price class with a heated chamber that can print a range of advanced polymers, composites, and metal—all on one machine. Further, RapidRinse is another step we are taking with Stratasys in our ongoing efforts to support sustainable manufacturing practices and industry safety standards.”

The addition of RapidRinse and ABS-R further strengthens METHOD X’s growing portfolio of advanced engineering-grade materials. MakerBot materials for METHOD are formulated to meet the highest standards. METHOD X can print the same polymers, composites, and metals found in familiar manufacturing processes—from injection molding to machining—due to its unique environmental control features. Its 6-in-1 modular extruder platform also allows for a quick change between material groups, preventing cross-contamination and faster extruder degradation.

Engineered and tested for over half a decade to print non-stop with over 15 patented technologies from Stratasys, METHOD 3D printers are built to reliably deliver prototypes, parts, complex assemblies, and manufacturing aids with greater strength and dimensional accuracy.

RapidRinse and ABS-R are expected to begin shipping in December 2021. For more information, visit http://www.makerbot.com/methodx.

About MakerBot

MakerBot, a Stratasys company, is a global leader in the 3D printing industry. The company helps create the innovators of today and the businesses and learning institutions of the future. Founded in 2009 in Brooklyn, N.Y., MakerBot strives to redefine the standards for 3D printing for reliability, accessibility, precision, and ease-of-use. Through this dedication, MakerBot has one of the largest install bases in the industry and also runs Thingiverse, the largest 3D printing community in the world.

Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statement

The statements in this press release relating to Stratasys’ and/or MakerBot's beliefs regarding the benefits consumers will experience from using MakerBot RapidRinse™ and ABS-R materials and timing of their expected shipping are forward-looking statements reflecting management's current expectations and beliefs. These forward-looking statements are based on current information that is, by its nature, subject to rapid and even abrupt change. Due to risks and uncertainties associated with Stratasys' business, actual results could differ materially from those projected or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the degree of our success at introducing new or improved products and solutions that gain market share; the degree of growth of the 3D printing market generally; the duration of the global COVID-19 pandemic, which, if extensive, may continue to impact, in a material adverse manner, our operations, financial position and cash flows, and those of our customers and suppliers; the impact of potential shifts in the prices or margins of the products that we sell or services that we provide, including due to a shift towards lower-margin products or services; the impact of competition and new technologies; potential further charges against earnings that we could be required to take due to impairment of additional goodwill or other intangible assets; to the extent of our success at successfully consummating acquisitions or investments in new businesses, technologies, products or services; potential changes in our management and board of directors; global market, political and economic conditions, and in the countries in which we operate in particular (including risks related to the impact of coronavirus on our operations, supply chain, liquidity, cash flow and customer orders; costs and potential liability relating to litigation and regulatory proceedings; risks related to infringement of our intellectual property rights by others or infringement of others' intellectual property rights by us; the extent of our success at maintaining our liquidity and financing our operations and capital needs; the impact of tax regulations on our results of operations and financial condition; and other risk factors set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in Stratasys’ most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on March 1^st, 2021. Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made throughout our 2020 Annual Report and the Report of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K that attaches Stratasys’ unaudited, condensed consolidated financial statements and its review of its results of operations and financial condition, for the quarterly period ended March 31^st, 2021 and June 30^th, 2021, which we furnished to the SEC on May 5^th, 2021 and August 5^th, 2021, and our other reports filed with or furnished to the SEC, which are designed to advise interested parties of the risks and factors that may affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. Any guidance provided, and other forward-looking statements made, in this press release are made as of the date hereof, and Stratasys and MakerBot undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

MakerBot, MakerBot METHOD X, METHOD X, METHOD, MakerBot RapidRinse, MakerBot LABS, and VECT are trademarks or registered marks of MakerBot Industries, LLC. STRATASYS is a trademark of Stratasys, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

¹ Based on internal testing that shows RapidRinse filament dissolves significantly faster than competing soluble support materials.

² 0.2 mm or ± 0.002 mm per mm of travel (whichever is greater). Based on preliminary internal testing of selected geometries.

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