Case Study: Microsoft achieves faster Surface Pen design validation with Stratasys 3D printing

Microsoft accelerates Surface Pen prototyping with Stratasys J850 Prime and 14-micron layers

Microsoft, a major technology company, faced a challenge in developing its Surface Pen, as increasing internal complexity made it difficult to verify how numerous tiny components from different engineering teams would fit and function together within the small form factor. To address this, they turned to vendor Stratasys for a solution involving 3D printing.

Stratasys provided its J850 Prime 3D printer and VeroUltraClear resin, which enabled Microsoft's Advanced Prototyping Center to create highly precise, multi-color, and clear physical prototypes of internal assemblies. This solution allowed engineers to visualize micron-level tolerances and subassembly interactions, accelerating design validation. The impact was a faster time to market, as these high-fidelity prototypes helped identify and eliminate potential production issues early, ensuring a smoother path to manufacturing.

Microsoft