02-07-2017: Stratasys introduced a mid-budget series of professional FDM 3D printers, the F123 Series

It was also debut of GrabCAD Print software

On February 7, 2017, during the SOLIDWORKS WORLD 2017 conference, Stratasys unveiled three new devices that would become its flagship FDM systems for years to come. The F170, F270, and F370 formed the new F123 Series, combining Stratasys' signature functionality, precision, and efficiency while offering significantly lower prices. Targeted at the mid-level industrial sector, the F123 Series disrupted many small companies that had believed they could compete with Stratasys in this market segment.

At first glance, the F123 Series printers resembled smaller versions of Stratasys' large, flagship Fortus production systems. The three models—F170, F270, and F370—differed in build volume, the number of material cartridges, and the types of materials they could use. Each printer featured two print heads: one for the model material and the other for support material.

This system worked with ABS, ASA, and PC-ABS, whereas PLA printing was limited to single-material usage. The printers were equipped with heated build chambers, and materials were loaded via cartridges. The F170 could hold two cartridges, requiring manual material changes, while the F270 and F370 had space for four cartridges, enabling automated filament switching.

Additionally, the Stratasys F123 Series incorporated 15 new Stratasys patents into its design.

A key innovation was the new GrabCAD Print software, which allowed fully automated operation. It could not only arrange parts on the print bed (or across multiple beds for larger models) but also work directly with source files from CAD programs. For example, it could import a file directly from SOLIDWORKS and automatically prepare it for 3D printing.

Today, this level of automation is standard even for low-budget 3D printers like those from Bambu Lab, but at the time, it was a groundbreaking feature.

In April 2019, Stratasys expanded the F123 Series with the introduction of the F120. This compact 3D printer offered advanced features from the larger models but in a smaller footprint and at an even lower price. In subsequent years, Stratasys continued developing the F123 Series, introducing "Composite-Ready" (CR) versions that enabled 3D printing with composite materials like carbon fiber.

To this day, the F123 Series remains popular, offering a balance of high production quality and affordability.

Source: www.stratasys.com