Material

PLA Material

High precision functional molds with the toughness of PLA

General Information

PLA (PolyLactic Acid) is a biopolymer, i.e., a biodegradable plastic. It is made from renewable raw materials such as cornstarch or sugarcane. Aside from 3D printing, it is typically used for packaging material, plastic wrap, plastic cups and plastic water bottles.

PLA is brittle and has a high surface hardness. It is prone to break when bent. Objects made from this material can be cut, filed, sanded, painted, and bonded using adhesives; treating them with acetone (for improving surface smoothness) is not possible.

3D Scales can create high precision engineering tools as well as tough and durable prototypes.

Design Guidelines

  • Printing limitations:
  • Size limitations
  • Assembly?                                                   YES
  • Degree of details on the object.                    HIGH                   
  • Hollowing?                                                   YES

Degradability & durability

      PLA is biodegradable & durable.

Printing techniques

  1. Model is edited on 3D software
  2. Model transferred to 3D printer
  3. Object 3D printed
  4. Support removal
  5. Finishing

Recommended fields of application

PLA is widely used for household items, gadgets, and toys. It is better suited when flexibility is not your major requirement. On the other hand, it is biocompatible with the human body and can be used for objects that are worn on the skin.

Due to its relatively low glass point, PLA is unsuitable for objects that are subject to heat: When exposed to 60ºC or more for some time, it loses its shape. You wouldn’t use PLA for objects that are exposed to direct sunlight for a prolonged time or that are placed in a car. It is also not suitable for kitchen equipment that is put into the dishwasher.

Strengths

  • Molds, Including injection molds
  • Tough & heat resistant prototypes
  • Fine-detail models
  • Form, fit & functional testing

Limitations

  • End products (Sensitive to UV Light)

 

 

PolyJet Resin Material

Intricate designs & sculptures with a smooth surface finish

General Information

Our PolyJet resin material creates 3D printed objects from a base of photosensitive polymer liquid. That liquid is then solidified by UV light layer by layer to create a rigid and highly detailed prints which are comparable to injection molded plastics. The final product has a naturally smooth surface which can be polished further to create near full transparency. Our resin 3D prints are originally either white or translucent.

Fine details, sharp dedges, & a smooth finish.

High detail resin is ideal for printing intricate designs & sculptures, as up to 0.2mm is enough to create clearly visible details. Apart from size, resin comes with hardly any design restrictions.

Design Guidelines

  1. Printing limitations.
  2. Size limitations.                              
  3. Assembly?                                     YES
  4. Degree of details on the object.     HIGH
  5. Hollowing?                                    NO

Degradability & Durability

      Polyjet Resin is biodegradable & durable.

Printing techniques

  1. Model is edited on 3D software
  2. Model transferred to 3D printer
  3. Object 3D printed
  4. Support removal
  5. finishing

Recommended fields of application

Resin 3D prints create objects which are particularly smooth and precise. They are perfect for ornamental objects, but they can also be used for more mechanical uses if the strain on the object is not too great. Resin is also often used by large companies when prototyping new designs and can also be used for creating end products. Though everyone from beginning designers to experienced professionals can also benefit from the great liberty in design the material offers.

The resin is suitable for making large volumes with small details on it but it is not suitable for wired shapes.

With regards to water qualities, resin is water-resistant but not waterproof. Thus the 3D object must not rest in contact with water for extended periods of time. In terms of temperature, if the plastic is subjected to heat above 50°C (122°F), it is possible that the physical form of the object can significantly altered.

Strengths

  • Intricate designs & sculptures
  • Small, high detail models
  • Jewelry, Art 
  • Invest casting

Limitations

  • Large models
  • Extensive exposure to UV light

 

 

SLA Resin

Rigid plastics for fast & cost effective prototyping

General Information

Stereo lithography (SLA or SL; also known as stereo lithography apparatus, optical fabrication, photo-solidification, or resin printing) is a form of 3-D printing technology used for creating models, prototypes, patterns, and production parts in a layer by layer fashion using photo polymerization, a process by which light causes chains of molecules to link together, forming polymers. Those polymers then make up the body of a three-dimensional solid.

Prototyping plastics are best suited for fit or form checks but are also suitable for printing functional parts such as enclosures & custom piging.

Design Guidelines

  1. Printing limitations
  2. Size limitations
  3. Assembly?
  4. Degree of details on the object
  5. Hollowing?

Degradability & Durability

SLA Resin is biodegradable & durable.

Printing Techniques

  1. Model is edited on 3D software
  2. Model transferred to 3D printer
  3. Object 3D printed
  4. Support removal
  5. Finishing

Recommended fields of application

Medical modeling

SLA models are used in medicine for creating accurate 3D models of various anatomical regions of a patient, based on datasets from computer scans. Medical modelling involves first acquiring a 3D CT, MRI, or other scan.

Prototyping

Stereo lithography is often used for prototyping parts. For a relatively low price, Stereo lithography can produce accurate prototypes, even of irregular shapes. Businesses can use those prototypes to assess the design of their product or as publicity for the final product.

Strengths

  • Rapid turnaround time
  • Inexpensive 
  • Form & fit prototyping
  • Moving & assembly model
  • Fine detail models with smooth surfaces
  • Sales, marketing & exhibition models

Limitations

  • Tolerance of +/- 1mm
  • Overhangs require support 
  • Print layers are visible 
  • Anisotropic (weak in the Z direction)

 

 

Sandstone Powder

Photo-realistic full color (scale) models & sculptures.

General Information

Multicolor is the only material that enables you to print models with more than one color. Models made of multicolor are constructed from a fine, white, granular sandstone powder. The interior of the model stays white while coloring print heads ‘paint’ the exterior of your model. Designers can also choose between a matt and a gloss finish.

Powder-based printing technology is also used to create ceramic prints. The printer’s rolling mechanism spreads thin layers of ceramic powder on a platform, and a print head places an organic binder at specific locations. Ceramic prints are literally ‘glued’ together, layer by layer, and then fired in an oven several times. Ceramic comes in seven different color finishes.

Ideal for professional (scale) models, architecture, product design,& fine arts.

Design Guidelines

  1. Printing limitations
  2. Size limitations
  3. Assembly?
  4. Degree of details on the object
  5. Hollowing?

Degradability & Durability

      Powder Material is biodegradable & durable.

Printing Techniques

  1. Model is edited on 3D software
  2. Model transferred to 3D printer
  3. Object 3D printed
  4. Support removal
  5. Finishing

Recommended fields of application

Medical modeling

SLA models are used in medicine for creating accurate 3D models of various anatomical regions of a patient, based on datasets from computer scans. Medical modelling involves first acquiring a 3D CT, MRI, or other scan.

Prototyping

Stereo lithography is often used for prototyping parts. For a relatively low price, Stereo lithography can produce accurate prototypes, even of irregular shapes. Businesses can use those prototypes to assess the design of their product or as publicity for the final product.

Strengths

  • Architectural models
  • Lifelike Sculptures
  • Gifts & Memorabilia
  • Complex models

Limitations

  • Functional parts
  • Intricate Features

 

 

Paper Material Selective Deposition Lamination (SDL)

General Information

Multicolor is the only material that enables you to print models with more than one color. Models made of multicolor are constructed from normal A4 papers. The interior of the model stays white while coloring print heads ‘paint’ the exterior of your model. Paper machine reads the digital data and slices the computer model into printable layers equivalent in thickness to the paper. The software also enables you to position the part, or several parts, within the 3D printer’s build chamber.

Design Guidelines

  1. Printing limitations
  2. Size limitations
  3. Assembly?
  4. Degree of details on the object
  5. Hollowing?
  6.  

Degradability & Durability

Biodegradable & durable material.

Printing Techniques

  1. The first sheet is attached to the build plate.
  2. The machine deposits drops of adhesive on the first sheet of paper, more in the area of the part and less in the surrounding area that will become the supporting material.
  3. A new sheet of paper slides in, and the machine applies pressure to bond the first and second sheets together.
  4. An adjustable Tungsten carbide blade cuts one sheet of paper at a time, tracing the object outline to create the edges of the part.
  5. The process continues for each layer until the model is finished. After the last layer is complete, the part can be removed from the build chamber.

Recommended fields of application

Prototyping

Stereo lithography is often used for prototyping parts. For a relatively low price, Stereo lithography can produce accurate prototypes, even of irregular shapes. Businesses can use those prototypes to assess the design of their product or as publicity for the final product.