Oct. 16, 2014
Traditional 3D Printing materials such as PLA and ABS have limited technical capabilities due to the nature of the polymers. But now Michigan-based startup 3DXTech, a division of Global Polymer Group (GPG) wants to change it by developing innovative solutions to solve difficult those technical challenges.
Back in May, 3DXTech announces three specialty 3D printing filaments that can be used in existing FDM/FFF 3D Printers. Responding to the needs of this global market, 3DXTech today introduced another two new grades of Electrostatic Discharge (ESD)-safe materials that have been developed specifically for use in desktop 3D Printers.
3DXNano ESD filaments are made from engineering-grade polymers and incorporate multi-wall carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to achieve a highly consistent ESD-level of conductivity.
"Our 3DXNano ESD products will work in practically any desktop 3D printer with a heated build platform," says Matt Howlett, President of 3DXTech.
"We chose to incorporate CNTs into these products because they offer exceptionally consistent ESD properties with very low loading rates. This allows for the filament to be more ductile and have less particulate contamination compared to traditional carbon black additives. The base resins we used - ABS and PETG - are very familiar to the 3D printing community and suitable for most desktop 3D printers. Whereas ABS is suitable for the majority of applications, we needed a more chemically resistant polymer for applications where improved chemical resistance is needed. We chose PETG because it is a permanently amorphous polyester that exhibits very good chemical resistance, exceptionally low moisture absorption, and excellent dimensional stability."
Benefits of CNTs include:
- Consistent surface resistivity
- Low additive loading rates
- Improved retention of impact & elongation
- Low particulate contamination
- Minimal contribution to outgassing and ionic contamination
3DXNano ESD ABS Carbon Nanotube
3DXNano ESD ABS Carbon Nanotube (CNT) enhanced compounds are used in critical applications that require electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection and a high level of cleanliness.
Recommended Print Conditions:
- Extruder: 245-255°C. 3DXNano ESD ABS is a filled product and has a higher melt viscosity vs. unfilled ABS. Therefore, it is sometimes necessary to print at higher temperatures to allow the resin to flow properly.
- Bed Temp: 100-110°C
- Bed Prep: Kapton Tape, ABS/Acetone Slurry (we typically use both)
3DXNano ESD ABS + Carbon Nanotubes is priced at $58 / 750g (1.65 lbs) or $78 /kg (2.2 lbs).
3DXNano ESD PETG + Carbon Nanotubes
Benefits of PETG include:
- Superior Chemical Resistance vs. ABS
- Amorphous: Low and near isotropic shrinkage
- Low moisture absorption: 3X lower vs. ABS
- Very low odor emitted during printing
- Superior ductility vs. ABS
- Wide processing range: 230 - 270°C
Recommended Print Conditions:
- Extruder: Ideally 250 to 255°C
- Platform Temp: 23 to 105°C
- Platform Prep: Kapton Tape
- Raft: Printing without a raft is recommended, or using another filament such as ABS or HIPS for easy release.
Typical applications include:
- Semi-con: HDD Components, Wafer Handling, Jigs, Casings, & Connectors
- Industrial: Conveying, Metering, and Sensing applications
3DXNano ESD PETG + Carbon Nanotubes is also priced at $58 / 750g (1.65 lbs) or $78 /kg (2.2 lbs).
3D Printed Conformal Coating Mask
Palmer Design & Manufacturing, used 3DXNano ESD ABS and PETG filaments to make custom conformal coating masks to protect critical components of the printed circuit boards (PCBs) during the coating process.
"3D printed masks allow us to improve quality, increase efficiency, and can be printed ESD-safe with great flexibility of design. So even small companies with small board runs can benefit with professional masking products," says Andrew Palmer, President of Palmer Design & Manufacturing, LTD.
"The 3DXTech materials are ideally suited for printing ESD-safe parts. We typically print with their ESD ABS grade unless the customer is using a solvent-based conformal coating - then the PETG grade is more suitable. Before we started 3D printing these parts, our customers often used masking tape or CNC machined masks. Masking tapes are slow and imprecise - often leading to quality issues from incorrect masking. CNC machined masks are expensive compared to our 3D printed parts, so smaller customers who couldn't afford the CNC machined parts can use our 3D printed parts and not worry about the issues with masking tapes."
Posted in 3D Printing Materials
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Hello I am interest in a conformal coating spray mask jig. How do I get a quote from you? Evelynl@precisionassembly.com
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