Stratasys announced the release of two new 3D printing materials this week. Agilus 30 and Agilus 30 Black represent a family of rubber-like poly-jet photopolymers. The materials are also highly flexible and tear-resistant. Users can combine it with certain photopolymers to produce digital materials. This can be done via software like Objet Studio. Furthermore, this process allows users to create new shades and colors as well.
The Agilus series is part of Stratasys’ larger line of rubber-like materials. It is compatible with Objet 260, 350, 500 and also Connex 1, 2 and 3. Stratasys designed Agilus as a material “ideal for advanced design verification and functional testing”. As a result, mech engineers, industrial engineers and similar designers will find great utility in the Agilus series.
FDM Nylon 12CF
FDM Nylon 12CF is a carbon-filled thermoplastic that can potentially be used as a substitute for metals. This makes it one of the most promising materials for 3D printing. According to Stratasys: “it has the high strength-to-weight ratio and a tensile strength on par with other high-performance FDM materials”. Aside from general manufacturing, the material shows promise in the fields of Aerospace, transportation or industrial production.
The material is comprised of a blend of Nylon 12 resin and chopped carbon fiber, at a loading of 35% by weight. The company claims that 12CF has the highest flexural strength of any FDM thermoplastic. As a result, Stratasys are launching it as the ideal material for design engineers who want to produce light-weight, high flexibility parts with unique structural requirements. According to Stratasys, additional uses also include “strong but lightweight tooling applications and functional prototypes in the aerospace, automotive, industrial and recreational manufacturing industries”.
Stratasys optimized The Fortus 450mc specifically for use with FDM Nylon 12CF. The need for very specific hardware is unsurprising. Nylon printing presents some hurdles (example given: bed adhesion, temperature control) for most other printers.