Fortify, a 3D printing startup, announced the launch of its CKM (Continuous Kinetic Mixing) system, which enables new functions in printed photopolymers. CKM addresses industry challenges that have persisted for decades when processing filled resins. This news comes as Fortify grows into its new Boston headquarters with increased printing and manufacturing capacity. The company is preparing to ship machines to select customers this summer.
Fiber and particle additives have been used to enhance polymer performance and function in the injection molding industry for decades. Fortify is implementing these reinforcing techniques with 3D printed photopolymers. CKM ensures that additives stay uniformly distributed throughout the material while mitigating sedimentation and aggregation. This system allows for the manufacturing of a new class of functional materials.
In addition to advanced hardware and software systems, Fortify innovates within materials science to process viscous, heavily loaded polymers. This new class of material is well suited for high-performance applications.
The CKM process incorporates additives to enhance mechanical performance (strength, stiffness, toughness, wear, and heat deflection temperature) as well as thermal and electrical properties. Fortify’s platform combines the scalability, resolution, and surface quality of photopolymers with the performance expectations of traditional high-performance polymers.
Fortify has recently expanded its use cases to include metal injection molding. In this application, ceramic fibers are blended with resin to manufacture tooling that can withstand the extreme temperatures and pressures of the molding process.
Fortify is gaining traction in several specialty applications in the electrical and communications industries. These proprietary use cases leverage Fortify’s ability to combine strength with tune-able dielectrics in complex shapes.
Fortify’s Digital Composite Manufacturing (DCM) platform includes onboard mixing (CKM) and magnetic alignment technology (Fluxprint). The Fortify team will begin shipping machines this summer to select partner locations.
Fortify
www.3dfortify.com
Filed Under: Make Parts Fast, Molding • injection molding components
