Stratasys, a global leader in additive manufacturing or 3D printing technology, has introduced new durable, temperature and chemical resistant FDM thermoplastics. Meeting the specific requirements of 3D printed applications in manufacturing, these materials can withstand high temperatures and challenging requirements common on the production floor.

Materials introduced include Antero 840CN03 for the Stratasys Fortus F900 3D printer, and Diran 410MF07 and ABS-ESD7 for the Stratasys F370 3D printer. Each of these thermoplastics are well-suited to handle the requirements of manufacturing applications in industries such as automotive and aerospace to engineer advanced 3D printed jigs and fixtures, tooling, prototypes and production parts.

Developed for the F900 3D printer, Antero 840CN03 is the second PEKK-based polymer now offered by Stratasys in its portfolio of proprietary Antero high performance polymers - and leveraging the Kepstan PEKK technology from Stratasys strategic supplier Arkema. The new Antero material is formulated to create highly customised tooling and parts with consistent electrostatic discharge (ESD) performance, and is ideal for printing high temperature- and chemical-resistant parts with ultra-low outgassing and exceptional wear properties.

Suited for aerospace and industrial applications, the new Antero material with ESD properties can create strong yet lightweight parts used in frames, panels and components. The material is also being added by Stratasys Direct Manufacturing, the company’s contract manufacturing division – as part of its comprehensive material offerings.

“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.”

Built for highly durable tooling applications, Diran is a nylon-based material formulated by Stratasys and offered for the Stratasys F370 printer. The new FDM thermoplastic gives manufacturers extreme toughness and low friction - combined with resistance to hydrocarbon-based chemicals and a smooth surface to offer low sliding resistance. Diran’s toughness is able to withstand the rough handling of tools often common in a manufacturing setting.

The ABS-ESD7 thermoplastic, previously only available on the Stratasys Fortus printers, is built for static-sensitive applications to prevent discharge or attraction to other materials like powders, dust and fine particles. Extending factory floor materials to the Stratasys F370 3D printer, users can capitalise on prototyping and production requirements for low cost and highly customisable parts. Delivering an affordable, ESD-safe material on a platform dedicated to ease-of-use, repeatability and part accuracy, ABS-ESD7 is ideal for manufacturing tooling applications.

“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,” said 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 minimising costs often associated with traditional approaches.”