3D Printing
Gears are at the heart of many mechanical systems. They drive machines, make precise movements in robots possible and are indispensable in gearboxes and vending machines. Customised and durable gears are increasingly in demand. For this reason, igus has now developed a new 3D printing resin for the DLP process with iglidur i4000. The innovative material has been specifically designed for the special requirements of gears. Compared to conventional 3D printing resins, it offers a 13 times higher elongation at break and a five times longer service life.
Gears are at the heart of many mechanical systems. They drive machines, make precise movements in robots possible and are indispensable in gearboxes and vending machines. Customised and durable gears are increasingly in demand. For this reason, igus has now developed a new 3D printing resin for the DLP process with iglidur i4000. The innovative material has been specifically designed for the special requirements of gears. Compared to conventional 3D printing resins, it offers a 13 times higher elongation at break and a five times longer service life.
Time is sometimes of the essence. An example is when a machine is due for maintenance, but the required component is not in stock. The igus online CNC Service 2.0 allows orders for machined parts made of tribologically optimised high-performance plastics (optimised for friction and wear) to be processed in just a few minutes.
Knowing the durability of a 3D-printed component often makes it easier to choose the right material. This is why igus has now added a service to its 3D printing range. Apart from a price calculation and a feasibility analysis, the online 3D printing service can now also predict service life for individually manufactured special parts in just a few seconds. Just upload the STEP or STL file, have the service life calculated, choose the right material and order the part, and it will be shipped within three days.
igus, the motion plastics specialist based in Cologne, is launching a new laser sintering material for 3D printers: the powdered iglidur i6-BLUE is easy to detect thanks to its blue colouring, and also complies with FDA and EU 10/2011 regulations. The new material thus increases the safety of machines and systems in the food and beverage industry. iglidur i6-BLUE is in no way inferior to the proven iglidur i6 in terms of strength and sliding properties, and is particularly suitable for printing worm gears, toothed gears and snap-on connections in 3D.
With the iglidur i3000, igus is now presenting the world’s first 3D printing resin specifically for DLP 3D printing of wearing parts. This enables the additive manufacturing of particularly small, precise components with a service life that is 30 to 60 times longer than with conventional 3D printing resins. igus is also expanding its 3D printing service with DLP printers that achieve a resolution of 0.035 millimetres.
igus is expanding the scope of its 3D printing service: Chemical-resistant, lubrication-free tribo-polymer components can be manufactured using selective laser sintering (SLS). This evolutionary step is made possible by a new printing material for laser sintering printers: iglidur I10 is resistant to acids, bases, alcohols as well as greases and is therefore suitable for use in electroplating and food processing plants.
Unique store concepts, concrete stairs with futuristic designs or modern facades: Aectual, a Dutch company, implements special architecture projects with its XXL 3D printer. For reliable “lights out” robot operation, the design engineers decided to use highly flexible chainflex cables in a triflex R energy chain with a pneumatic retraction system. In the seventh axis, an E4/light energy supply system supplies the robot with energy and data.
To manufacture wear-resistant parts in special dimensions quickly and cost-effectively, igus has now developed a new, easy-to-machine all-rounder filament: iglidur I190. It is remarkable for its great mechanical flexural strength (80 MPa). The tribologically optimised material requires no lubrication or maintenance and can be used with all commercially available 3D printers with heated printing plates.
When booms for solar panels or satellite antennas are transported into space in a launch vehicle, they are exposed to high loads. To simplify the complex transport and speed up the production of the elements, the AIMIS-FYT student team is working on a 3D printing process. In the future, it should be possible to produce structural parts in outer space. To conduct experimental tests in zero gravity, the students built a 3D printer. For the drive technology supported by igus, they relied on the maintenance-free and lightweight drylin SAW linear axes.