Objet has introduced a high-temperature engineering material for the thermal functional testing of 3D printed parts and prototypes. The material, RGD525, simulates the high thermal performance of engineering plastics while maintaining dimensional stability.
Objet's high-temperature RGD525 targets thermal functional testing of models and prototypes, such as this automotive air conditioning vent printed on Connex500 and Eden500V 3D printers.
Photo courtesy of Objet
The material's heat deflection temperature is 145F to 153F after printing and 167F to 176F after thermal treatment in a programmable oven. Zehavit Reisin, head of Objet's consumables line of business, said in an interview that her firm has designed RGD525 for fit and form, as well as for thermal functional testing of static 3D models and prototypes such as automotive air vent ribs and hot air intakes. The material can also be used to simulate high-temperature engineering plastics used for hot air flow or hot water flow in taps and faucets, or for high-definition parts that must possess excellent surface quality. (You can access a video about the material here.)
Though fit and form applications require materials with dimensional stability and accurate visualization, engineering and high-temperature materials must make it possible to simulate the final product functionally, not merely replicate it, Reisin said:
In function applications, Objet's strategy has been first to enhance our capabilities in the rapid prototyping side. Correct fit and form are required for making models. But we've also wanted to get into function applications by introducing new materials that approach engineering plastics. These materials must possess both high temperature resistance and high toughness. In functional product design testing, the prototypes must function like the final product, as well as look and feel like it.
This year, Objet introduced the company's first material that simulates engineering plastics, the ABS-like RGD5160-DM. This material combines toughness with a heat deflection temperature of 136F to 154F after printing and 179F to 203F after thermal treatment. Its impact resistance is 1.22 to 1.5 footpounds per inch. RGD5160-DM can be used for electrical parts, mobile phone casings, engine parts and covers, and snap-fit parts designated for high- or low-temperature applications. For example, it was recently used to create a dashboard prototype for the European StreetScooter. The dashboard consists of more than 20 different 3D printed parts.
The RGD525 material can be used with Objet's Connex500 and Eden500V 3D printers. The company plans to make it available on additional platforms in 2012, according to a press release. "The models created in this material are more resilient in diverse environmental conditions, whether in transit or under strong exhibition lighting," Reisin said in the release.
Using the Connex multimaterial 3D printer, RGD525 can be printed simultaneously with any of the Objet Tango family of rubber-like materials. This makes it possible to simulate overmolded parts such as air flow vents used in automotive and defense applications.
There's been a lot of activity in the 3D market this year and a lot of excitement. Much of the focus has been on the cost of 3D printers coming down to a price point that makes them more accessible to smaller shops and even for engineers looking to do design exploration at home. But in addition to this critical trend, it's equally important that the material choices evolve so the printers can serve more functional roles in prototyping and manufacturing. This new offering seems like it opens the door to some pretty interesting new applications.
It's great to see a materials focus coming to 3D printing, so that it becomes viable for more than just prototype, but for serious, low-volume production runs as well. The ability to conduct thermal and stress tests on printed prototypes is a crucial part of the design and validation process, so again this is a welcome development.
Whenever a heat deflection temperature number is given, it's important to give the corresponding load. Are these heat deflection temperatures at 66 psi, or at 264 psi?
A heat deflection temperature of 167 - 176°F at 66 psi would be comparable to an unfilled polypropylene or HDPE. A heat deflection temperature 167 - 176°F at 264 psi would be comparable to PET or PBT.
Either way, these numbers are quite low compared to engineering plastics such as nylon, polycarbonate, or polyacetal -- let alone high temperature plastics such as PTFE, PEEK, or PPS. Still, everything is relative. For 3D printing materials, these numbers may indeed be high.
Also, it's interesting that RGD525, with a heat deflection temperature of 167 - 176°F, is being marketed as the "high temperature" option, when the heat deflection temperature of RGD5160-DM (marketed as the "ABS-like" option) is given as 179 - 203°F. Just looking at the numbers, it would seem that RGD5160-DM would be a better choice for "high temperature" applications.
Beth, you're right, a lot of this year's new has been about lower-priced and more affordable 3 D printers. And yes, there have also been some pretty exciting developments in high-end engineering materials, and now we're seeing very low volumes in additive manufacturing in some areas, such as aerospace "bridge" parts. For example, we covered some of these in Materials Broaden Reach in Additive Manufacturing:
Dave, I agree that "high temperature" is a relative term. The materials described here are for objects that must withstand hot air and hot water, not higher temperature situations.
Dave makes a really good point, and this relates to one of my pet peeves, which is that anything which begs a comparison should do so. (I.e,, you can't say "50% faster," it's gotta be 50% faster than X.). Anyway, so the question here becomes what is the sweet spot for highER temp 3D materials...what markets specifically are these aimed at.
Alex, I share your distaste for relative statements made with no reference point. These materials are aimed at vents that must channel both hot air and cold air flow, such as for automotive or other HVAC systems, and pipes carrying hot water.
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