Stratasys Ltd. has announced a number of new validated materials for its Fortus 450mc 3D printer, as well as a new open material software license that enabling printing with exploratory open materials.
“There should be no limits on what’s possible with 3D printing,” said Stratasys CEO Dr. Yoav Zeif. “The polymer materials industry is investing in additive manufacturing like they never have before, and we want our world-class customers to be able to take full advantage of those innovations in chemistry as quickly as possible.”
DI Labs, a Wilmar, Minn.-based protype and production 3D printing company is Startasys’ global launch partner and the first beta site for the OpenAM software and material license.
“Our Fortus 450mc printer offers us consistent and reliable printing outcomes but until now, we’ve been limited by materials,” said DI Labs CEO Carl Douglass.
DI’s engineers are working with Stratasys to fine-tune this new software platform and optimize the process of printing with materials like Polyetherketoneketone (PEKK) and polyetheretherketone (PEEK). Douglass says the OpenAM software will provide opportunities for additive in complex aerospace, medical devices, heavy industrial and automotive applications. The software, used in conjunction with GrabCAD Print or Insight, provides parameter controls and printer tuning capabilities for customers who wish to use open market filaments or newly developed proprietary formulas. The software can also adjust parameters to meet unique customer requirements for Stratasys Preferred and Validated materials as well.
New FDM Materials
Stratasys partnered with materials providers Covestro, Kimya, and Victrex plc to make Stratasys Validated materials available for its FDM printers, starting with the Fortus 450mc. These materials have been validated by Stratasys with basic reliability testing. The following FDM materials are now available for order, and are expected to ship by early 2023:
- VICTREX AM 200: Strong, semi-crystalline Polyaryletherketone (PAEK) filament formulated for end-use parts production in high-requirement industries such as oil and gas and aerospace.
- Covestro Addigy PA6/66-GF20 FR LS: Flame-resistant, glass fiber composite material that meets EN45545 requirements for rail applications. The materials strength and stiffness is similar to Nylon 12CF.
- Kimya PC-FR: Flame-resistant polycarbonate that meets EN45545 requirements for rail applications and is designed for end use parts, including low-volume production and replacement parts.
- FDM HIPS: A high impact polystyrene-based material for low requirements applications
In addition, several existing materials are now available in colors as Validated materials:
ULTEM 9085 Red, Dream Gray, White, Jana White, Gunship Gray, Aircraft Gray: Providing this flame-retardant, high-performance thermoplastic in several colors opens up more end-use parts applications in which aesthetics are important, such as in aircraft or train car interiors.
PC Red, Black: Polycarbonate filament with heat resistance and high durability for functional prototypes and tooling.
PCS-ABS Red: Blend of polycarbonate and ABS polymers provides both heat resistance and flexural strength for a variety of prototyping and end-use parts.
Stratasys Selects ALM to Provide PA12 Powder
Stratasys also announced that it has selected Advanced Laser Materials (ALM) as the first provider of SAF PA12 material, for the H350 3D printer. PA12, also known as nylon 12, is the single most popular material in industrial 3D printing today, providing geometric accuracy, chemical resistance, and stiffness for machine components, communications industry applications, and prototyping. Stratasys says it will be able to take orders for SAF PA12 before the end of the year.