3D printing hardware and materials manufacturer Stratasys recently unveiled a selection of high-performance, production-grade materials intended for manufacturing, aerospace, and automotive applications. The new offerings are especially tough as well as temperature and chemical resistant, making them ideal for the demanding environment of the factory floor.
Jigs and Fixtures
Two of the materials are for the Stratasys F370 3D printer: Diran 410MF07 and ABS-ESD7. The Diran filament is a nylon-based formulation that’s incredibly durable and smooth, allowing it to slide against other materials and hold up to abrasive manufacturing settings; it’s also rather light. These characteristics make it a great choice for fabricating jigs and fixtures that need to be regularly positioned into grooves and slots.
ABS-ESD7 was previously available only on Stratasys Fortus printers but is now available on the F370 as well. The material is ESD-safe, meaning it doesn’t build up electrostatic discharge. It’s designed to be used in static-sensitive environments where fine particles, dust, and powders are present. Coincidentally, that means it’s well-suited for many 3D printing applications that involve lots of powders.
We see growing adoption of 3D printing in production environments, yet engineers and designers struggle with thermoplastics that just can’t match the extreme requirements of manufacturing-based applications. Our thermoplastics can remove these barriers to accelerate adoption of 3D printing in manufacturing settings, allowing users to design and create faster, while minimizing costs often associated with traditional approaches. Adam Pawloski, Vice President of Manufacturing Solutions at Stratasys
Jet and Spacecraft Components
Last but certainly not least is Antero 840CN03 for the Stratasys Fortus F900, the second PEKK-based thermoplastic from Stratasys. It’s super strong, heat and chemical resistant, lightweight, AND ESD-safe. With a tensile strength nearly 40% higher than nylon, this material is engineered to handle the most extreme applications such as jet and spacecraft components.
“Manufacturing spacecraft poses intense material challenges in the development of parts that exhibit the right attributes,” said Brian Kaplun, Senior Manager for Advanced Manufacturing, Lockheed Martin Space. “One of those challenges is getting the right ESD or electrostatic dissipative properties, among other physical and mechanical characteristics. Stratasys Antero ESD fits our needs for outgassing and electrostatic dissipative properties in a strong but lightweight additive manufacturing material.”
Stratasys is well-positioned to see the shift in the 3D printing landscape toward more production-grade applications so these new materials will certainly help them stay relevant in a quickly-growing field of competition.
Featured image courtesy of Business Wire.
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