PROCESS EQUIPMENT UPDATE A LEAP FORWARD
A new technology promises the mass production of additive manufacturing parts
N
ew Digital Light Synthesis (DLS) technology that uses rigid production grade material EPX 82,
may mark a leap forward in the series manufacture of end use plastic components for industry using additive manufacturing. The technology from Carbon
3D is being used by 3D printing manufacturer Protolabs. The company recently expanded its fl eet of carbon printers and added production focused capacity with the technology in mind.
HOW DOES IT WORK? The DLS technique is signifi cantly faster than other additive manufacturing processes, according to the company. In one example, Protolabs reported that the batch production of 28 units of product for the automotive industry was more than four times faster than using stereolithography (SLA). And, according to the company, these time savings are even greater for taller parts. While DLS from Carbon 3D has
been used for elastomeric materials, Protolabs is one of the fi rst to apply it to rigid parts for production. The 3D printed components from the
epoxy resin EPX 82 have high strength, long-term durability and functional toughness with mechanical properties comparable to glass fi lled polymers. Combining these properties with its high chemical and thermal resistance make EPX 82 components an excellent choice for many fi nal products. Commenting on these advances,
Daniel Cohn, managing director of Protolabs Additive Manufacturing, says: “This technology combined with engineering expertise means we can provide plastic components for series production using additive manufacturing for the fi rst time. It takes the technology well beyond
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www.engineerlive.com
An exhaust downpipe made using DLS technology
This battery was produced using DLS technology
its traditional application of prototyping, product development and low scale production.
MORE FLEXIBILITY “It’s well known that additive manufacturing can produce geometries and structures that are simply not possible using other techniques, but speed has traditionally been a problem for mass production. “Using DLS from Carbon 3D to
manufacture parts from the epoxy resin EPX 82 has changed that narrative. It means that companies can now have fi nished products in less time without having to produce complex injection moulds. As this is a new process, Protolabs
off ers advice to potential customers on whether DLS is suitable for their components. The company off ers outsourced research and development through to production for AM, then works with potential customers to develop a suitable design that is then validated through test prints. This can be reiterated if necessary. “The way we work allows the development and refi nement of parts through to delivery of fi nal components in a fraction of the time required by other processes,” Cohn says.
For more information visit:
www.protolabs.com
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