To meet tight time-to-market schedules for a new infra-red camera, Sweden’s leading prototyping and part production service bureau, Prototal AB, recently turned to RenShape® SL 7810 photopolymer. Using the next-generation stereolithography (SL) material from Huntsman Advanced Materials, Prototal built several design iterations of the camera, taking just two days for each functional prototype. RenShape® SL 7810 photopolymer is a white, ABS-like resin that yields accurate, durable parts with a high-quality surface finish.
According to Jonas Sandwall, Prototal Project Manager, “The time to market schedule for this new infra-red camera was very tight. To produce the detailed, functional models that our customer, FLIR Systems AB, required, stereolithography technology was the only option.”
After determining that SL would be the best process for the project, Prototal considered a number of different materials and selected next-generation, antimony-free RenShape® SL 7810 resin to build the cameras. The photopolymer combines good impact strength with long-term dimensional stability, even at temperatures of up to 104ºF (40oC) and 90% humidity. The product also is easy to process in Prototal’s SLA ® 5000 equipment, featuring a low viscosity and high green strength. Cured and painted SL prototypes could be completed in just one week before being shipped out for field testing and customer approval.
Sandwall explains, “RenShape® SL 7810 resin delivers a range of benefits for us and our customers. The material has good physical properties and models are stable for a long period. It is also possible to process SL 7810 resin faster than some other photopolymers, making the new resin extremely cost effective compared to competitive materials.”
“The models we produced for FLIR using RenShape® SL 7810 photopolymer successfully completed a range of internal assembly and functionality tests as well as final customer approval procedures. Overall we are very pleased with the performance of this new resin and the excellent customer support we receive from Huntsman as well,” concludes Sandwall.
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::Design World::
Filed Under: Materials • advanced