May 5, 2017 | By Benedict
Steelmans, a UK-based precision industrial equipment company, has launched a Kickstarter for a new 3D printing filament. MatteForge, available at an early bird price of $28 per kilo, is an odorless, PLA-based 3D printing material that is suited to industrial and product design.
When you think of 3D printing on Kickstarter, you (unsurprisingly) tend to think of the 3D printers: hugely successful ones, like the Form 1 and M3D Micro, but also deeply unsuccessful ones, whose names we won’t mention for fear of inducing PTSD.
But crowdfunding platforms can also be a great way to kickstart other printing-related products, such as filament dryers, maker tools, and—of course—3D printing materials. That’s why British industrial equipment company Steelmans has launched a Kickstarter campaign for MatteForge, its new PLA-based 3D printing material.
“For months we have been testing various materials and compounds with help from our 3D Hub and various 3D printer manufacturers who are keen for MatteForge to be available for their machines,” Steelmans says.
According to the British company, MatteForge is a new filament that “produces a beautiful matte, low gloss finish right off the print bed.” It’s supposedly ideal for industrial and product design and technical engineering models, and produces an ABS-like matte finish with a PLA-like level of printability.
“We couldn't find anything available that would visually disguise the layers that hinder FFF/FDM printing without the addition of post processing or including additives such as foam or fibre that might weaken the filament,” Steelmans says. “MatteForge produces the finish we always wanted right off the print bed.”
In fact, if Steelmans is to be believed, MatteForge will more or less improve your life on all fronts: the filament supposedly reduces layer lines, allows for faster printing speeds, offers high impact resistance and flexural strength, does not warp, and has “amazing” layer adhesion.
It looks pretty cool, too: the MatteForge 3D printing material will initially be available in black, white, grey, red, and blue. However, additional colors such as green, yellow, and orange may be added if the Kickstarter goes way above its target.
“MatteForge is our most exciting product yet,” says Steelmans, which has run two previous Kickstarter campaigns. “It has taken over a year to get to this stage where we are 100% confident in the performance and we can make it available to you.”
Since the MatteForge Kickstarter has already surpassed its £9,000 goal, the 3D printing material is very much available. A good number of early bird packages are still unclaimed, offering customers a 1 kg spool (1.75 mm or 2.85 mm) for £25 / $28 / €27. There are also big discounts available on multipacks.
Steelmans is also the company behind the LokBuild 3D printing surface for FDM 3D printers.
MatteForge features:
- Matte finish, low gloss
- High impact resistance
- Good flexural strength
- Same print settings as typical PLA
- Great layer and bed adhesion
- Made from 100% renewable and natural raw materials
- Almost no odor
- No warping (low shrinkage, 0.3%)
- Available in 1.75 mm or 2.85 mm
- +/- 0.05mm diameter tolerance
MatteForge print settings:
- Recommended printing temp: 180 - 220°C (ideal 195°C)
- Recommended printing speed: 40 - 120 mm/s
Posted in 3D Printing Materials
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