October 08, 2024 | Volume 20 Issue 38 |
Manufacturing Center
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The new additive manufacturing material is aimed at driving greater part quality, versatility, and cost efficiency.
Flexible automotive component produced with SAF PP on the Stratasys H350, ideal for tight and chemical-resistant applications. [Credit: Image courtesy of Stratasys]
Stratasys recently announced the commercial availability of its groundbreaking new material, SAF™ Polypropylene (PP) for use on the Stratasys H350™ printer, set to launch in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Stratasys SAF PP, offered in partnership with BASF Forward AM, is designed to provide greater cost efficiency and superior part quality in Powder Bed Fusion (PBF) technologies. According to its developers, this innovative material offers a lower cost per part and exceptional surface aesthetics as compared to existing materials and is designed to meet the rigorous demands of high-volume production while maintaining exceptional overall quality.
"With superior nesting ability and a total turnaround time of less than 36 hours, SAF PP allows customers to produce hundreds of parts in a single build," said Neil Hopkinson, vice president, Additive Manufacturing Technology, Stratasys. "This boosts productivity and cost efficiency, delivering high-quality parts at a lower cost."
VIDEO: Scale up production with SAF technology. [Credit: Stratasys]
SAF 3D printing uses smart powder management and targeted heating for better overall part strength. According to Stratasys, SAF technology "revolutionizes 3D printing by deploying industrial-grade print heads to precisely apply a fusing fluid on a powder bed. Using an infrared lamp to selectively fuse particles layer by layer, the fluid enhances heat absorption of the powder particles to form solid objects. This method supports high-volume production of complex shapes, rendering an efficient and cost-effective way to manufacture end-use parts, without the constraints of traditional manufacturing processes."
Automotive speaker grill printed with SAF PP on a Stratasys H350 printer, and finished with the VaporFuse Surfacing process using the Powerfuse S PP machine from DyeMansion. [Credit: Image courtesy of Stratasys]
SAF PP is engineered for a wide range of applications, catering to diverse industries such as automotive, medical, consumer sports, and industrial sectors. SAF PP provides durability, chemical resistance, and flexibility for automotive components like housings and ducting, as well as orthotic devices and consumer sports gear like shin guards. Its lightweight nature, and water and air tightness, make it an ideal choice for producing intricate, high-quality parts across various applications.
VIDEO: Compact footprint of the SAF H350. [Credit: Stratasys]
The new material has also demonstrated the capability to produce robust, defect-free parts with complex geometries, such as flexible tight pipes and intricate sensor mounts.
"The surface finish of SAF PP parts is unparalleled," said Philipp Gotz, CEO, Gotz Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG, a beta test customer of this material. "The fine detail resolution and uniform appearance are far superior to any other PBF printed PP we have seen, significantly enhancing the visual appeal of our final products."
"It's airtight and watertight properties ensure reliable performance across various applications," said Jennifer Govea, application engineer, Sun Digital.
Additionally, SAF PP can be welded to other polypropylene components, expanding its use in modular assemblies -- a characteristic that is unique among PBF materials.
Learn more about the new SAF PP material here. You can also download the SAF PP material data sheet from Stratasys here.
Learn about the Stratasys H350 3D Printer here.
Source: Stratasys
Published October 2024