MakerBot, announces that three new Kimya ABS composite materials by ARMOR have been qualified for MakerBot LABS for the MakerBot METHOD X 3D printer. Composites are one of the most in-demand material categories for manufacturing applications due to their enhanced properties compared to unfilled thermoplastics. The new materials include:
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- Kimya ABS Kevlar – Kimya ABS Kevlar is an extremely strong yet lightweight and durable material that is known for its use in bullet-proof vests and race tires. Reinforced with aramid fibers, this is a composite filament that gives finished 3D printed parts greater strength and dimensional stability. The addition of aramid fibers reduces shrinkage to achieve high precision and high resistance to abrasion. Due to its properties, Kimya ABS Kevlar is ideal for jigs, fixtures, tolls, and end use parts, such as robotic end effectors and protective gear.
- Kimya ABS-ESD – This is an ABS material that has been formulated to possess electrostatic discharge (ESD) properties, which protects against electrostatic discharges that can cause damages to electronics systems and create fire and personal safety hazards. Kimya ABS-ESD is a lightweight and rigid material that offers good impact resistance. The material is easy to print and fits applications that require protection against electrostatic discharge, such as electronics housings and production fixtures.
- Kimya ABS-EC – Kimya ABS-EC is a new and unique composite material consisting of ABS with the addition of carbon nanotubes, an electrically-active additive. The material allows for the circulation of electrons along its surface, making it electrically-conductive (EC). The material is also resistant to impact, heat, and aging. Its unique properties open up new applications in the automotive and electronics industry, such as touch sensors.
Parts 3D printed with composite materials can often replace traditionally-manufactured parts, resulting in significant time and cost savings. ARMOR, for example, has demonstrated cost savings of up to 80% compared to traditional manufacturing methods by 3D printing tools and fixtures with the ABS Kevlar material in its own production facilities. ARMOR Group specializes in the industrial formulation of innovative materials and thin-film coatings.
With its up to 110°C heated chamber and ability to control the speed at which parts cool during the printing process, METHOD can print strong manufacturing-grade parts from advanced engineering materials more successfully than traditional desktop 3D printers. Users can also produce parts that have internal structures or complex geometries on METHOD when printing with Stratasys SR-30 soluble supports.
Kimya ABS Kevlar, Kimya ABS-ESD, and Kimya ABS-EC are available to print on the METHOD X 3D printer with the new MakerBot LABS GEN 2 Experimental Extruder, the latest edition of the LABS extruder. The GEN 2 Experimental Extruder prints more abrasive third-party composites and polymers for longer periods of time due to its upgraded hardened-steel components, such as the hardened gears and a metal filament switch designed to reduce wear from these materials.
Kimya ABS Carbon and PETG Carbon are also available for METHOD through MakerBot LABS. Kimya materials can be purchased online.
METHOD is able to print a variety of materials, including ABS, PC-ABS, Nylon 12 Carbon Fiber, ASA, and PETG, as well as a host of materials from partners. The platform’s modularity allows users to easily switch between the six different extruders that MakerBot offers for different material groups and applications. Partners in the MakerBot LABS Materials Development Program include Kimya by ARMOR Group, Polymaker, BASF 3D Printing Solutions, Jabil, LEHVOSS Group, and Mitsubishi Chemical.
MakerBot
www.makerbot.com/method.