Stratasys' industrialized FDM 3D printer is suitable for a variety of end uses, such as fixtures and tooling, and carbon fiber materials have proven to be very suitable for this printer. With the FDM ABS-CF10 material, Stratasys now enables engineering and manufacturing users who use its high-performance F170, F270, and F370 3D printers to use carbon fiber more conveniently.
FDM ABS-CF10 material contains 10% chopped carbon fiber, which can completely replace metal parts. Compared with standard ABS, its strength is increased by 15%, its stiffness is increased by more than 50%, and it is lighter than metal, and can achieve high-precision printing. QSR Support's water-soluble materials make it possible to print out complex parts without having to take out the support manually.
The Marshall Aviation and Defense Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom, specializes in the conversion and modification of military, civil and commercial aircraft, as well as defense vehicle engineering and shelter manufacturing. The company uses Fortus 450mc and F370 3D printers to produce various tooling.
"All the tooling we create are different and have their own characteristics. The F370 3D printer provides us with great flexibility, allowing us to choose from a wide range of materials and produce functional parts according to the application requirements. Compared with the parts made of aluminum, the 3D printing method to produce the parts made of metal in the past greatly reduces the cost, while also reducing the overall quality of the parts. Therefore, we urgently want to understand FDM ABS- CF10 creates the benefits of production auxiliary equipment." said Chris Botting, manager of materials and environmental engineering at Marshall Aviation and Defense Group.
Stratasys' internal analysis shows that between 2019 and 2023, the additive manufacturing market for polymer fixtures is expected to grow at an annual growth rate of 14.2%. With its FDM ABS-CF10 material, Stratasys will focus on meeting the application needs of aerospace, automotive, industrial and leisure and entertainment manufacturing. The components produced include industrial robot end effectors and ergonomic auxiliary equipment, such as lifting aids and manual Tools, and positioning devices on the assembly line.
"Manufacturers are increasingly turning to 3D printed carbon fiber materials. The main reason is that this material is very strong, versatile and lightweight. We hope that all of our FDM customers can take full advantage of the properties of these materials. . The introduction of FDM ABS-CF10 material has taken an important step to enhance the position of 3D printing in the global manufacturing industry.” said Dick Anderson, senior vice president of manufacturing at Stratasys.
The FDM ABS-CF10 material is scheduled to be launched in April 2021.