Silicon Valley-based additive manufacturing technology developer Arevo Labs has launched a manufacturing service aimed at creating 3D printing composite parts for end use applications in the various industries including aerospace, medical, oil and gas.
The parts, Arevo said in a press release, are polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and polyaryletherketone (PAEK) polymer-based composite formulations made for 3D printing. The formulations use polymer matrix with carbon nanotubes, carbon fiber, and glass fiber to improve strength, stiffness, durability, wear and chemical resistance, thermal stability, and electrostatic discharge (ESD) properties.
One of the two materials the company announced is Katevo, which features a PEEK-based formulation, unfilled, carbon fiber grade. Katevo is intended to benefit oil and gas applications. Quantevo has a PAEK polymer-based composite formulation, and an unfilled, carbon fiber, CNT grade. Quantevo was developed for applications in the aerospace, factory automation and tools, and medical industries.
Arevo claims the service benefits engineers and product developers because it allows those professionals to produce the most advanced thermoplastic composite parts made today.
One company that has benefited from one of Arevo’s materials is Matternet, which is the first company to develop a smart drone for transportation, according to Arevo.
“I can confirm that the drone arm printed with AREVO’s Katevo-CF material with no internal structure is much stronger than a carbon fiber filled SLS arm with inner ribs,” said Ido Baruchin, head of design at Matternet.
Now that the 3D printed PEEK and PAEK composite parts are available, Arevo Labs CEO Hemant Bheda announced that the company is now working with OEMs to scale up production.
Filed Under: Industrial automation