MakerBot, a global leader in 3D printing and a subsidiary of Stratasys, announced the expansion of its material supply range through nylon 12 carbon fiber, adding another composite material to the company's growing material portfolio.
MakerBot nylon 12 carbon fiber material can be printed on the MakerBot METHOD and MakerBot Method X 3D printers using the MakerBot compound extruder and the METHOD carbon fiber version of the 3D printer. The compound extruder has hardened metal drive gears, wire switches, and replaceable hardened steel nozzles. It is designed to enable the Method printer to print high-performance materials. The materials in the METHOD series are designed to enable engineers to print for a wide range of applications from prototypes to production-ready parts.
MakerBot`s nylon 12 carbon fiber exhibits strong physical and thermal properties and can be used to print metal replacement parts in certain applications. It is an elastic carbon fiber reinforced nylon, optimized for high strength and high stiffness.
MakerBot nylon 12 carbon fiber uses nylon 12-based polymer, which can absorb less water than nylon 6/66. Therefore, it can maintain more performance in the presence of moisture. Nylon 12 carbon fiber can provide a smooth carbon fiber 3D printing experience, and can achieve stable performance in any environment. For applications that require parts to maintain their shape with minimal bending, such as car brackets or testers, nylon carbon fiber provides a tensile modulus of 6000 MPa, emphasizing its high stiffness. The material is suitable for functional prototypes and lightweight mold applications in the aerospace, manufacturing and automotive industries.
"Composite materials are ideal materials for a series of engineering applications. MakerBot nylon 12 carbon fiber, due to its high dimensional stability and stress crack resistance, provides manufacturers with a cost-effective and lightweight alternative to metal 3D printing." Chief Executive MakerBot Officer Nadav Goshen said.
The heating chamber in the METHOD series of 3D printers can produce manufacturing grade nylon carbon fiber parts, and its dry-sealed filament holder helps keep the material dry, thereby improving print quality and reliability. In order to obtain excellent surface treatment effects, users can use PVA or Stratasys SR-30 soluble support to print complex geometric shapes. The METHOD series of 3D printers can also provide a detachable stand for faster printing results.
METHOD offers a growing material portfolio for various applications. MakerBot’s METHOD materials include nylon 12 carbon fiber, PC-ABS, ABS, nylon carbon fiber, PETG, ASA, etc. Users can also use the MakerBot LABS experimental extruder to print with more engineering-grade materials from leading third-party filament suppliers.
MakerBot nylon 12 carbon fiber material is expected to start shipping in November 2020.