Product category:
Fast prototyping equipment, pattern-making and services
News Release from: DSM Somos | Subject: DMX-SL 100 stereolithography (SL) resin
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 02 July 2007
Resin expands SL into rapid
manufacturing
For rapid prototyping and 'direct' or 'rapid manufacturing' using stereolithography, a resin has been formulated to give high durability in terms of impact strength and stiffness.
DSM Somos R and D and the Netherlands-based DSM Research group, DMX-SL, have jointly developed a stereolithography (SL) resin, which it is claimed, has the stiffness of standard ABS-type resins but more than twice the impact strength Said Somos Product Development manager Brian Bauman: "DMX-SL is very different from traditional SL resins"
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 13 Apr 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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"With an impact strength up to 0.71J/cm, yet a flexural modulus ranging from 2000-2400 MPa, it has the stiffness of standard ABS-type resins but more than twice the impact strength - plus up to 20% elongation at break." Having near-thermoplastic properties the resin makes SL more suitable direct manufacturing.
Direct manufacturing is the tool-less building of plastics parts.
Some companies have used SL to produce hearing aid shells, jigs/fixtures for product assemblies and interior products such as custom lamp shades.
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
Until now, the properties of existing SL materials rather restricted their use.
Summing up the main features of DMX-SL 100, advantages are as follows.
* Extreme robustness - impact resistance 0.71J/cm; up to four times higher than standard SL materials.
* Stability over time - constant impact resistance even after aging at high temperatures.
* Mechanical properties - much closer to leading engineering plastics such as ABS, nylon, PP and PC.
* Superior accuracy and surface aesthetics - typical of sterolithography.
* Excellent optical and tactile properties - very useful combination of mechanical properties for prototyping and rapid manufacturing (looks and feels like plastics).
* Cost efective - DMX-SL 100 allows SL technology to be used as a cost effective alternative to selective laser sintering (SLS) and vacuum casting.
* Zero inhibition to common silicone moulding materials.
* Suitable for small frame as well as large frame SL machines such as Viper Si2, SLA 7000, Viper Pro, etc.
"Current SL resins on the market - and there are over 40 between Somos and other suppliers - are more brittle than traditional engineered plastics such as polypropylene, ABS, polycarbonate and nylon," said Bauman.
"In addition, SL parts often become more brittle over time, which is unacceptable for direct manufacturing applications".
Somos marketing manager, Eva Montgomery, said: "We believe Somos DMX-SL 100 is a revolutionary product for the RP industry.
Until now, other RP technologies that utilise molten or sintered thermoplastics have traditionally been chosen when part durability was critical, but with a sacrifice in part aesthetics or dimensional consistency.
DMX-SL combines the accuracy of SL with the durability of a sintered nylon.
Now RP users can have custom-built parts that are durable, accurate, and have excellent detail".
Apparently, the early users of the SL material agree with DSM Somos.
For example, Mark Jones, SL Manager at Laser Reproductions (www.laserrepro.com) in Gahanna, Ohio, USA, said, "DMX-SL is rigid yet bendable - the perfect combination.
Its impact reliability is much more than 'semi-rigid' or 'rigid' materials currently on the market.
I've doubled parts over with no breakage. Request a free brochure from DSM Somos ...
Compared to typical SL materials, DMX-SL is 'heads' above the competition.".
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