One of many fundamental challenges that producers have named in terms of additive manufacturing (as in comparison with extra standard manufacturing strategies) is materials availability and flexibility. And whereas we are able to’t say that the business is but at a degree the place it may possibly straight compete with long-established manufacturing processes like injection molding in terms of materials choice, nobody can deny that nice efforts are being made throughout AM to broaden materials selections and develop new materials grades that fill necessary gaps available in the market.
As an instance this, we wish to have a look at a handful of photopolymer resins—all launched inside the final 5 months—which are giving vat photopolymer finish customers entry to extra purposes and particular materials properties like optical transparency, biocompatibility, dielectric properties and extra.
ThOR 10, a COR composite
Final month, PolySpectra and Tethon 3D launched ThOR 10, a resin materials that mixes each corporations’ respective specialties, particularly PolySpectra’s Cyclic Olefin Resins (COR) and Tethon 3D’s ceramic fillers. ThOR 10 is PolySpectra’s first composite photopolymer resin, providing a novel mixture of COR’s helpful properties and the power and resistance supplied by ceramic reinforcement.
The fabric is reportedly the primary in a collection of high-performance composite photopolymers that the companions plan to launch. These supplies will all presumably be based mostly on PolySpectra’s COR materials, which was invented by the corporate’s founder to beat problems with brittleness frequent with resin 3D printing. With the mixing of glass filler from Tethon 3D, the brand new materials has improved properties on the entire, with a excessive affect power of 55 J/m, >20% elongation, an elevated glass transition temperature (Tg) of 131°C and glorious chemical resistance (this property is attribute of COR). ThOR 10 is appropriate for practical purposes that require resistance to stresses and warmth, akin to fluidic manifolds and elements utilized in harsh environments.
TrueSilX50, pure silicone
Not too long ago, Axtra3D turned the most recent firm to leap into the fray of silicone 3D printing. A notoriously tough materials to 3D print, silicone has large potential by way of purposes, significantly within the sphere of healthcare. Not too long ago, developments have been made within the printing of silicones, together with the first silicone filament and a 40A pure silicone resin from Formlabs. Most lately, Axtra3D launched TrueSilX50, a pure silicone resin suitable with its Lumia X1 3D printer.
The brand new materials has a shore durometer of 48A and allows Axtra3D prospects to take advantage of the traits of pure silicone, together with sturdiness, flexibility and biocompatibility. The advantages of 3D printing silicone in comparison with molding embody higher design freedom, much less materials waste and accelerated turnaround occasions. Within the medical business particularly, higher customization could be a large benefit. In comparison with different silicone-based 3D printing, Axtra3D says the mix of TrueSilX50 and its Lumia X1 platform allow excessive precision and complicated geometries with micron-level accuracy.
IPX-Clear, for micro-optical precision
Early this yr, Nanoscribe, a specialist in high-precision additive manufacturing, launched IPX-Clear, a photoresin with unparalleled optical transparency that’s unlocking new potentialities by way of micro-optical precision. IPX-Clear was particularly engineered for Two-Photon Polymerization (2PP) and Nanoscribe’s Two-Photon Grayscale Lithography (2GL) know-how.
In line with Nanoscribe, the brand new resin has gentle transmission properties within the vary of 380-780 nm, which is effective for a spread of optical purposes, like imaging methods, optical sensing applied sciences and next-generation shows. Along with unlocking a brand new degree of optical transparency for micro 3D printing, the resin additionally gives an ultra-smooth end (with floor roughness beneath 10 nm).
Ataru, with low-loss dielectric properties
Late final yr, Nano Dimension debuted Ataru, a UV curable resin materials suitable with a broad vary of DLP platforms. The fabric, a low-viscosity resin, was engineered to have distinctive excessive temperature resistance (with a glass transition temperature >300°C) making it appropriate for purposes like tooling, injection molding and carbon fiber molding.
Ataru resin can also be notable for its low-loss dielectric properties, which make it a viable materials alternative for high-frequency electrical purposes, like RF antennas. “We consider that Ataru would be the enabler that unlocks new alternatives in industrial-level additive manufacturing that requires high-performance purposes akin to these within the electronics, aerospace and automotive sectors that in the end contribute to the enlargement of the general 3D printing market,” stated Yoav Stern, CEO of Nano Dimension.
You’ll find extra of the most recent tales associated to photopolymer 3D printing right here.
