Stratasys releases production-grade FDM materials and PolyJet J850 3D printer
3D printing company Stratasys has made a series of announcements today, including the release of new production-grade thermoplastics for its FDM platforms. The new materials, including Antero 840CN03, Diran 410MF07 and ABS-ESD7, are all suited for high-temperature applications and boast production-grade durability and chemical resistance. Stratasys has also introduced a new PolyJet multi-material 3D printing solution, the J850, as well as accompanying materials.
New production-grade plastics
First, we’ll take a closer look at the production-grade FDM materials, which Stratasys says can be used in range of industries, including automotive and aerospace, to manufacture advanced 3D printed jigs, tooling, fixtures, prototypes and end-use parts.
Antero 840CN03 was developed for use on the Stratasys Fortus F900 3D printer and is the second PEKK-based polymer offered by Stratasys. The material, which is based on Arkema’s Kepstan PEKK technology, is ideal for producing customized tooling and parts that require consistent electrostatic discharge (ESD). Antero 840CN03 can also be used for 3D printing high temperature parts with good chemical and wear resistance and ultra-low outgassing properties. Looking at specific applications for the new FDM thermoplastic, Stratasys says it can be used in aerospace to produce lightweight parts for frames, panels and more.
Nylon-based Diran 410MF07 was designed for the Stratasys F370 3D printer and is notable for its low friction and high toughness properties. The material, well suited for tooling applications, also boasts resistance to hydrocarbon-based chemicals and a good surface finish quality, which results in low sliding resistance.
Finally, ABS-ESD7 is a thermoplastic which was previously only compatible with Stratasys Fortus 3D printer series and is now unlocked for use on its F370 machine. The plastic is ideal for static-sensitive applications as it prevents discharge and does not attract other materials like powders, dust or fine particles.
“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,” commented Adam Pawloski, Vice President of Manufacturing Solutions at Stratasys. “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.”
J850 PolyJet 3D printer
Stratasys today also announced the next generation of its PolyJet solution, the J850 3D printer. The new machine, which has the same multi-color and multi-material capabilities as its predecessor, the J750, is capable of higher print speeds and greater material capacity.
According to Stratasys, the new J850 3D printer can produce concept models twice as fast as previous systems in its J series thanks to a new Super High Speed Mode option. Compared to the previous PolyJet systems, the J850 also has a greater material capacity of up to seven materials, enabling designers to produce parts with even more color, transparency and hardness combinations.
“The new J850 has been built to meet the needs of the full design process in industries such as consumer goods, consumer electronics, automotive, as well as education settings,” said Shamir Shoham, Vice President of PolyJet Business Unit at Stratasys. “Typically, that process includes two separate streams: evaluating geometric shape with a physical single-color model, and considering color and texture on the screen. The J850 merges these two mediums into one full-color, multi-material model to make better design decisions, earlier.”
To accompany the release of the new printer, Stratasys has also lauched two new PolyJet materials: VeroUltraClear, which has glass-like visual properties, and DraftGrey, a low-cost material for cheaply iterating early design concepts.
