Product category:
Fast prototyping equipment, pattern-making and services
News Release from: DSM Somos | Subject: Rapid prototyping materials
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 21 June 2006
Materials move RP closer to direct
manufacturing
Latest rapid prototyping materials are intended to move the technique closer to direct manufacturing, offering enhanced processing speeds (20% increase) and ease of secondary processing.
During Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing 2006, held May 23-25 in St Charles, Ilinois (North America's largest annual Rapid Manufacturing event), stereolithography resin leader DSM Somos officially introduced its line-up of new materials for 2006
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 11 Aug 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
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Advanced rapid prototyping materials are coming
Commercialization is nearing of liquid materials containing fillers - such as metals, ceramics, glasses or polymers - allowing for a broader range of rapid prototyping applications.
More rapid prototyping materials expected in 2005
Two new materials for rapid prototyping previewed at Euromold 2004, a fire retardant material, and a low durometer material, will be in line for commercialisation during 2005.
"This year's new resin offerings reflect DSM Somos' commitment to driving the market forward with both material innovation and application development," said Somos marketing manager Eva Montgomery.
"In particular, we've continued our focus on materials that will move the RP market closer to direct manufacturing." * Somos NanoTool - NanoTool is the third resin to be introduced within DSM Somos' line of reinforced composite materials for conventional stereolithography (SL).
In 2003, ProtoTool 20L delivered novel capabilities to the RP market including stiffness up to 300% higher than unfilled resins, ultra low shrinkage and standard-setting thermal properties.
Further reading
Rapid prototyping materials advance
DSM Somos believed that stereolithography and laser sintering technologies have not changed significantly over 20 years, but the materials have advanced considerably.
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.
In 2004, NanoForm 15120 provided the SL industry with the first 100% nano-filled material, offering enhanced stiffness and accuracy with the processing ease of unfilled resins.
This year, NanoTool successfully combines the best features of these innovative Somos composite resins into one new material.
Enhanced processing speeds (20% increase) and ease of secondary processing further advance the use of composite SL resins in applications such as wind tunnel testing, rapid tooling and metal plating of structural composites.
* Somos ProtoGen O-XT Clear and ProtoGen O-XT White - based on Somos' oxetane chemistry (the Oxetane Advantage), ProtoGen O-XT Clear and White resins offer high dimensional stability via low water absorption and high green strength.
Other advantages of these new multipurpose materials include faster processing speeds and higher accuracy and heat deflection temperatures (HDT of 70 deg C with UV-only post-treatment and 100 deg C with thermal post-treatment).
Somos first harnessed oxetane chemistry more than four years ago in order to move ahead of traditional SL acrylate and epoxy chemistries in producing the standard-setting dimensional stability of its ABS-like WaterShed 11120 and Somos White 14120 resins.
Today, Somos' next generation of oxetane SL materials is designed to further expand the performance parameters of multipurpose SL resins.
* ProtoCast-AF - targeted for the investment casting industry, ProtoCast-AF is a completely antimony-free version of Somos' top selling WaterShed 11120 resin.
The material boasts extremely low ash content and is targeted for use with both fused silica and alumina refractory shell systems.
Like ProtoGen O-XT, ProtoCast-AF is also formulated with Somos Oxetane Advantage chemistry, for high dimensional stability and green strength.
All four of Somos' 2006 product introductions are currently in beta testing, with full commercialization expected later this year.
* About DSM Somos - DSM Somos is currently the world's second largest materials supplier to the rapid prototyping industry, providing stereolithography liquids and selective laser sintering powders used for the creation of three-dimensional models and prototypes directly from digital data.
Somos' patented ProtoFunctional materials are used by a variety of industries, including automotive, aerospace, medical and telecommunications.
DSM Somos is an unincorporated division of DSM Desotech - a world leader in the development of UV-curable materials - and a member of the global DSM family.
* About DSM Somos materials - stereolithography (SL) permits the rapid creation of 3D pieces utilizing a computer-controlled laser that polymerizes light-sensitive resins.
The process is highly precise and constructs the object in a series of 'additive layers', providing the advantage of producing highly complex forms that are difficult or impossible to fabricate by machining or traditional molding techniques.
The evolution of advanced SL materials offers the potential of moving stereolithography from prototyping into production.
DSM Somos ProtoComposites are resins reinforced with various materials, such as ceramics and glasses, to produce functional properties not possible using individual components.
DSM Somos ProtoComposite materials are a result of a significant research and development program investigating the potential for ACT-SL (Advanced Composite Technology for StereoLithography).
DSM Somos ProtoFunctional resins for stereolithography provide advanced technology to respond to the changing needs of new product development and industrial design.
In 2003, DSM Somos announced ProtoTool ceramic-filled resins, the first member belonging to the new ACT-SL technology and the result of a significant research and development program.
Traditional non-composite ProtoFunctional materials by DSM Somos satisfy a varying range of characteristics: transparency, superior humidity and heat resistance, and outstanding mechanical properties, replicating those of many production grade plastics such as polypropylene, polyethylene, ABS and PBT. Request a free brochure from DSM Somos ...
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