Product category:
Fast prototyping equipment, pattern-making and services
News Release from: DSM Somos | Subject: Somos WaterClear resin
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 25 January 2002
Power drill fast-prototyped in only
three days
Black and Decker power tool demonstrates ProtoFunctional and time saving advantages provided by new DSM Somos WaterClear resin.
Black and Decker power tool demonstrates ProtoFunctional and time saving advantages provided by new DSM Somos WaterClear resin Design Prototyping Technologies (DPT) prototyped parts for a recently commercialized DeWalt drill from Black and Decker using DSM Somos 10120 WaterClear, a unique stereolithography (SL) resin with the optical clarity of polycarbonate
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 13 Apr 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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Rapid prototyping conferences scheduled in June
Conferences and expositions for European rapid prototyping industry: DSM Somos(R) will share its experience with European audience.
New moulding and rapid prototyping shown
DSM Somos' WaterClear and injection moulding materials - recently presented during the Technology Focus in the United States - were shown for the first time in Europe.
The clear SL parts were built, finished and assembled into a working tool in only three days.
WaterClear is a composite of many desirable engineering properties, mimicking the flexural strength and modulus of polycarbonate, the notched izod impact strength of Nylon 66 and the tensile strength of ABS.
Ideal applications for this epoxy-based photopolymer include: flow visualization, complex assembly analysis, form/fit analysis and functional testing.
Further reading
Stereolithography resin is optically clear
DSM Somosannounces the availability of Somos 10120 WaterClear: a new stereolithography resin providing the optical clarity of many polycarbonates.
Stereolithography resin is optically clear
DSM Somos, leading technology innovators in the rapid prototyping (RP) materials industry, will be launching a new family of ProtoFunctional stereolithography resins at EuroMold in Frankfurt.
Fast prototyping product testing time cut by weeks
According to MTI, Somos 10120 WaterClear provided optical clarity that allowed a client to test its product design earlier and realise time savings
Its transparent appearance may be dyed in a secondary step for color tint.
According to Mike Rufo, President of DPT: "In the past when a designer wanted to see the inside of the tool during operation clear polycarbonate housings were injection molded using prototype or pre-production injection molding tooling.
The potential problem was at that point in the project the design process was nearly final and the ability to modify was constrained.
With Somos 10120 WaterClear, clear SL parts can be built early in the design process - as much as 6 months earlier than the previous approach using prototype or pre-production tooling.
Multiple iterations of these clear parts can easily be made as the design evolves." Rufo also notes that Somos 10120 WaterClear made it possible to use Plastite screws in the DeWalt drill model.
Plastite screws are self tapping and are used in production.
Using Plastite screws in earlier SL materials would either crack the boss material or the boss material would strip out because the material was too soft.
The solution was a combination of brass inserts and adhesive.
However, the boss size typically would need to be enlarged so the brass insert would fit.
Not needing to enlarge the boss results in one less design feature separating the prototype from production.
Not using inserts is also one less step in the prototyping process.
Somos 10120 WaterClear prototypes deliver exceptional durability, toughness, impact strength and also, in the case of the DeWalt drill models, had enough flex to accept a press fit bearing.
Other available grades of resin were either too soft for the application or too brittle to accept the press fit bearing.
Stereolithography is a layer additive rapid-prototyping process based on the use of photopolymer liquid resins which solidify when exposed to UV light.
A software program transfers the designer's 3-D CAD model into an electronic file for stereolithography machines ('STL' format), composing the information into thin cross sections or layers.
A laser beam then traces each layer onto the surface of a vat of photopolymer resin, building the part in repeated layers until a solid replica of the original CAD model is completed.
DSM Somos ProtoFunctional Resins for Stereolithography In addition to the new 10120 WaterClear series, DSM Somos ProtoFunctional resins range from the industry's first flexible resins for material properties similar to polyethylene (Somos 8100 series) or polypropylene (Somos 9100 series) to the latest generation of heat-resistant, humidity-tolerant, high-accuracy epoxy resins suitable for investment casting and direct tooling applications (Somos 7100 series).
Each family of Somos photopolymer epoxy resins is comprised of materials singularly formulated and optimised for the variety of stereolithography platforms commercially available: Somos XX'00' resins are for use in Argon ion laser systems; Somos XX'10' for Helio Cadmium laser systems; Somos XX'20' resins for platforms utilising Solid State laser systems.
DSM Somos also offers materials for selective laser sintering and is the first manufacturer of powder elastomeric polymer (Somos 201) that can be sintered to produce highly flexible parts with "rubber like" characteristics.
Product data sheets for DSM Somos resins are available on the company web site
DSM Somos - Delaware, USA - is a business belonging entirely to DSM, formed in 1999 following the acquisition of the company from DuPont.
DSM is a highly integrated group of companies with worldwide interests in life-science products, performance materials and chemicals.
DSM recorded sales of Euros 8.1 billion in 2000 and employs a total workforce of some 22,000, distributed in more than 200 operations throughout the world.
Somos(R) and ProtoFunctional(R) are registered trademarks of DSM.
WaterClear is a trademark of DSM. Request a free brochure from DSM Somos ...
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