09/08/2017
ELIX Polymers makes its debut at the TCT Show 2017
The TCT Show 2017, one of the most important fairs dedicated to 3D printing, takes place in Birmingham, England, from 26 - 28 September. ABS polymers specialist ELIX Polymers will be exhibiting for the first time, with its own stand, F59.
ELIX Polymers will be presenting its new 3D printing product portfolio, which has been developed over recent months after detailed analysis of specific market needs. New grades for Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF), more commonly known as FDM (Fused Deposition Modelling), have already been validated at filament producers, 3D printer makers and final part manufacturers.
The ELIX Polymers grades have a broad scope of applications, in sectors such as automotive, healthcare, aerospace, consumer goods and toys. “ELIX is the right partner for companies involved in 3D printing, thanks to its flexibility in production and the huge bank of polymer knowledge it has acquired over the last 40 years,” says Fabian Herter, Marketing Manager.
So far, ELIX has optimized five ABS grades for 3D printing, each of them fulfilling different customer requirements. All exhibit improved printing performance, low warpage, dimensional precision and high resolution. The portfolio includes:
- a general purpose grade (ELIX ABS-3D GP);
- a grade that fulfills EU regulation 10/2011 covering plastics intended for food contact, as well as biocompatibility standards ISO 10993-1 and USP class VI) for food contact and medical applications (ELIX ABS-3D FC);
- a high impact grade (ELIX ABS-3D HI);
- a grade with improved interlayer adhesion for complex parts (ELIX ABS-3D LA);
- an ABS reinforced with natural fibres that produces a wood-like appearance when used on special 3D printers (ELIX ABS-3D NF).
All grades are available in natural or precoloured in various shades. Further grades are under development.
The new 3D printing grades are backed up by technical support that includes recommendations on correct processing set-ups (extruder screw design, drive system and spool system). “The objective is to obtain the filament with the best quality properties in typical thicknesses of 1.75 mm and 2.85 mm and validate the material to meet the requirements of the final application,” says Luca Chiochia, Business Development Manager. ELIX has defined its own demanding material tests to evaluate the final filament quality.
“ELIX Polymers views 3D printing as an important means of creating prototype and production parts in small and medium quantities in a fast and highly cost-effective way, with low scrap and without any need for cutting metal to make moulds,” says Fabian Herter, Marketing Manager. “The physical limits imposed by conventional manufacturing technologies are also a thing of the past. And 3D printing of parts and final assembly at the intended place of use will also place less importance on transport logistics, which is one of the main sources of pollution at this time.”
