Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Ideal for:
•Conceptual modeling
•Funtional prototyping
•Direct Digital Manufacturing
•Monitoring Material Flow
•Monitoring Light Transmission
ABS-M30
Industry Applications:
Architecture,
Engineering,
Product Development,
Consumer Products,
Medical Tooling,
Dental Tooling
Ideal for:
•Functional Testing
•Higher quality parts then standard ABS
•Durability
•End-use parts
•Manufacturing Tools
ABS-M30i
Industry Applications:
Medical Models,
Pharmaceutical,
Food Packaging,
Engineering,
New Product Development,
Tooling
Ideal For:
•Conceptual Modeling
•Functional Prototyping
•Manufacturing Tools
•End-use parts
•Biocompatibility
PC (polycarbonate)
Industry Applications:
Automotive,
Aerospace,
Medical,
Manufacturing,
Dental,
Engineering
Ideal For:
•Funtional Testing
•Conceptual Modeling
•Manufacturing Tools
•Rapid Tooling
•End-Use Parts
PC-ABS (Polycarbonate - acrylonitrile butadiene styrene)
Industry Applications:
Automotive,
Electronics,
Telecommunications,
Manufacturing,
Engineering,
Electrical,
Consumer Products
Ideal For:
•Heat resistant prototyping
•Functional Prototyping
•Manufacturing Tools
•End-Use Parts
PC-ISO (polycarbonate-ISO),
Industry Applications:
Food and Drug,
Pharmeceuticals,
Medical Device Manufacturing,
Consumer Product Development,
Moulding,
Casting
Ideal For:
•Medical compatibility
•Conceptual Modeling
•Functional Prototyping
•End-Use Parts
Ideal For:
•Conceptual Modeling
•Funtional Prototyping
•Manufacturing Tools
•End-Use Parts
ULTEM 9085 (polyetherimide)
Industry Applications:
Mechanical Engineering,
Specialty Product Creation,
Architecture and Housing Development, and
Aerospace
Ideal For:
•High performance thermoplastic needs
•Advanced Functional Prototypes
•High Flame, Smoke and Toxicity rating
Thermoplastic elastomer.
Flexible, rubber-like parts can be prototyped using the SLS. Trade
named, “SOMOS 201”, the material produces parts with high
elongation. Yet, it is able to resist abrasion and provides good part
stability. The material is impermeable to water and ideal for sports
shoe applications and engineering seals.
Polycarbonate.
An industry-standard engineering thermoplastic. These are suitable for
creating concept and functional models and prototypes, investment
casting patterns for metal prototypes and cast tooling, masters for
duplication processes, and sand casting patterns. These materials only
require a 10–20 W laser to work and are useful for visualizing parts and
working prototypes that do not carry heavy loads. These parts can be
built quickly and are excellent for prototypes and patterns with fine
features.
Nylon.
This material is suitable for creating model s and prototypes that can
withstand and perform in demanding environment. It is one of the most
durable rapid prototyping materials currently available in the industry,
and it offers substantial heat and chemical resistance. A variation of this
is the Fine Nylon and is used to create fine-featured parts for working
prototypes. It is durable, resistant to heat and chemicals, and is
excellent when fine detail is required.
Metal.
This is a material where polymer coated stainless steel powder
is infiltrated with bronze. Trade named “LaserForm ST-100”,the
material is excellent for producing core inserts and
preproduction tools for injection molding prototype polymer
parts. The material exhibits high durability and thermal
conductivity and can be used for relatively large-scale
production tools. An alternative material is the copper polyamide
metal–polymer composite system which can be applied to
tooling for injection molding small batch production of plastic
parts.
Ceramics.
Trade named “SandForm Zr” and “Sandform Si”,these use
zircon and silica coated with phenolic binder to produce
complex sand cores and molds for prototype sand castings of
metal parts.
Selective Laser Sintering Materials
LS Materials Material Class Application “Best Fit”
Windform® XT Carbon Fiber Aerospace and Military non-structural hardware
Wind Tunnel Models
Motor Racing Sports
Automotive
Direct Digital Manufacturing (DDM)
Elevated HDT 170oC
Conductivity
Increased Mechanical Properties
This walker
uses many
different types
of rapid
prototype
materials and
techniques.
Medical Product Case Studies: Prototype Materials Innovation
Both examples started with CT imagery and applying free form fabrication to
create the physical organic forms. The end result was a complicated
convergence of advanced technologies, traditional model making skill sets and
innovative materials selections. What’s unique with both applications is the end
result.
The kidney model is a soft, five-part assembly comprised of various Gummy Bear
type gels. The kidney can be used for medical device research and development.
Doctors and development engineers can demonstrate placement and removal of
kidney stones directly through the self-sealing tissue using needles simulating a
surgical procedure, without loss of gelatinous fluids. The urethra tube is hollow to
allow penetration to the inner lobes, again simulating a medical procedure.
The heart model was laser sintered with an elastomeric powder material. While
the actual customer application is proprietary, the result demonstrates an
extraordinary relationship of technology and materials to aid in medical
innovations.
Gummy Bear type Heart model made
rapid prototype
using elastomeric
materials uses for
powder rapid
this kidney
prototyping
model.
materials.
Materials for RM Processes
5. Three-dimensional printing.
Z-Corp offers a plaster–ceramic composite as well as a starch-
based material and a straight plaster. Infiltrants include epoxy, urethane
cyanoacrylates and a low melting point wax.
APPLICATION-MATERIAL RELATIONSHIP
Areas of applications are closely related to the purposes of
prototyping and consequently the materials used. As such, the
closer the RP materials to the traditional prototyping materials in
physical and behavioral characteristics, the wider will be the range
of applications.
2. Visualizing Objects