MATERIALS | 3D PRINTING
Right: CEAD produces robotic 3D printing systems
temperature resistant parts, such as aerodynamic modelling and potentially rapid tooling”. Also in May, DSM said it was partnering with
CEAD, a supplier of 3D printing equipment focusing on large-scale, highly filled polymer printing. The two companies will explore Fused Granulate Fabrication (FGF) technologies and materials to develop new applica- tions in tooling and end-use parts. DSM will be purchasing a CEAD
robotic printer, for R&D purposes in a first instance and open for commercial projects via a service partner from September. The system features a novel extruder system from CEAD and is placed on a 6-axis robotic arm from Comau, with control software from Siemens. The machine is equipped with a milling centre and scanning unit for post-processing the parts directly on the machine. As if that wasn’t enough, in the same month DSM announced a partnership with another AM polymer supplier, Adaptive3D. DSM will help produce, distribute and sell Adaptive3D’s newest product, Soft ToughRubber, a 3D printable pho- topolymer aimed mainly at medical applications and wearable electronics. Evonik has been making moves too. In January it
Below: Evonik has agreed a materials
development partnership with Evolve Ad- ditive Solutions for its Step technology
acquired Structured Polymers, a US-based materials technology start-up headquartered in Austin, Texas. Evonik says the acquisition will provide it with access to a new patented technol- ogy that will allow it to expand its portfolio of specialty polymer powders in the AM market. Structured Polymers’ technology starts with a polymer granulate, which is converted to a fine powder through various process steps. This makes it possible to produce polymer powders with controlled particle sizes ranging in diameter between 0.1 and 400 µm, while achieving what
Evonik says are excellent material properties. “The new technology allows us to take virtually any semi-crystalline thermoplastic, such as polybu- tylene terephthalate, polyether ketone, or polyam- ide 6, or polymer powders with specialised properties like colour, conductivity, or flame protec- tion, and produce them for common powder- based 3D printing processes, such as selective laser sintering, high-speed sintering, or multi-jet fusion,” says Thomas Grosse-Puppendahl, the head of the Additive Manufacturing Innovation Growth Field at Evonik. “In addition, we anticipate that Structured Polymers’ technology can be scaled up easily and economically.” This May, Evonik and Evolve Additive Solutions said they had agreed to work together to formulate Evonik’s thermoplastic materials to be used in Evolve’s Step (Selective Thermoplastic Electropho- tographic Process) AM solutions. The initial development efforts will focus on PA6, PA12, transparent polyamide, and PEBA thermoplastic elastomer. Evolve is a spin-off from Stratasys (see Injection World June 2018). Evonik says: “Evolve’s Step technology will sit alongside traditional manufacturing processes, such as injection moulding on the manufacturing floor, augmenting an organisation’s production capabilities and allowing freedom of design and faster time to market with ‘toolless’ production.” The STEP process from Evolve is still in the alpha development stage and is expected to be commer- cial in late 2020. “Step has been developed for volume manufac- turing so offering the widest range of thermoplastic materials to our customers is a critical element for production,” says Steve Chillscyzn, CEO of Evolve Additive Solutions. “The joint development agreement with Evonik allows us to broaden the
32 INJECTION WORLD | June 2019
www.injectionworld.com
PHOTO: EVOLVE PHOTO: CEAD
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