MATERIALS | 3D PRINTING
However, this is where 3D printing comes into play. 3DKG, an Italian company specialising in 3D
printing, has developed a process enabling direct printing of various types of compound or polymer without filaments. It doses the necessary amount of molten material directly from a specialised extruder head, starting from plastic pellets. The selected compound was Latigray 82-03 AM
Above:
Sculpteo has teamed up with My
Human Kit to create custom- ised 3D-printed prosthetics
grade for a project that built a composite drone. Last year, Fly Mi – a student association of engineers and designers at the Politecnico di Milano in Italy – took part in an international competition called the Air Cargo Challenge in Germany.
Under the rules of the competition, the team developed and built Nyx, a drone made of com- posite materials with a length of 1.5 meters and a wingspan of 3m. Xenia supplied its XECarb 40-C20-3DP, a 20% carbon fibre-reinforced polycarbonate for additive manufacturing. It was essential in the creation of the moulds used to laminate the wings and control surfaces, which are crucial for the drone’s flight capabilities. The team said that the low CTE values of the
material reduced issues related to thermal shrink- age during the design phase, enabling production of higher-quality parts. Also, the absence of permanent deformations in the moulds after use – along with the resistance of internal surfaces to release agents – allowed repeated lamination of the movable surfaces to test various internal configurations for the best solution.
Radiation shield Lati3Dlab, in collaboration with 3DKG, has developed technology that combines the benefits of radiation-shielding thermoplastic compounds with pellet-based 3D printing. A material’s X-ray opacity depends on its density.
Typically, lead has been used due to its high density and ease of processing – though its toxicity is a concern. Latigray is a range of tungsten-filled compounds for that provide radiopaque perfor- mance without the use of lead. These can be injection moulded, but the cost of moulds has been a barrier to adopting plastic shielding compounds to replace sheet metal.
34 INJECTION WORLD | July/August 2025
CW/95, a formulation based on PA12 loaded with 95% tungsten powder. The challenge was met by combining the material’s shielding properties, with a density close to 10 kg/dm³, with 3DKG’s printing process. The 3D-printed collimator supports were: dimensionally precise, without deformation; compact – which is essential for effective shielding; and mechanically robust, thanks to good layer adhesion during the printing process. In addition, they provided X-ray shielding equivalent to the same thickness of lead.
Fast work NatureWorks has introduced Ingeo 3D300, which it calls its “fastest 3D printing grade yet”. The company says that the PLA-based material, called Ingeo 3D300, prints at up to 300 mm/sec in its neat form, ensuring rapid production without the need for performance-enhancing additives. In addition, its optimal transparency simplifies colouring and colour matching, offering designers and manufacturers greater fIexibility in achieving precise colour outcomes. Reducing print times and cutting the need for additional compounding helps to lower operational costs. “Ingeo 3D300 meets the expanding demand for
fast, clean, precise printing,” said Roger Tambay, chief growth officer at NatureWorks.
CLICK ON THE LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION: �
www.novenda.com �
www.aim3d.de �
www.malping.de �
www.kraussmaffei.com �
www.qbig3d.de �
www.aimplas.es �
www.arburg.com �
www.evonik.com �
https://3dchimera.com �
www.grafe.com �
www.sculpteo.com �
www.xeniamaterials.com �
www.lati3dlab.com �
www.natureworksllc.com �
https://ucsd.edu �
www.basf.com
www.injectionworld.com
IMAGE: SCULPTEO
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