Posted to News on 5th Dec 2006, 22:42
Rapid-manufacturing material is like black ABS or PP
3D Systems Corporation is introducing black-coloured Duraform EX plastic, an easy-to-process, durable material that is claimed to offer the toughness of injection-moulded polypropylene and ABS and is therefore excellent for rapid manufacturing.
Described by 3D Systems as 'revolutionary', a white version of this laser sintering material was first introduced earlier in 2006. The addition of black Duraform EX plastic gives users greater design flexibility, while reducing secondary operations needed to dye or paint parts.
Black Duraform EX plastic retains its toughness to temperatures as low as -54degC (-65degF), which is a critical functional requirement for many aerospace and automotive design engineers.
Abe Reichental, 3D Systems' president and chief executive officer, comments: "We are pleased to be able to expand the range of our revolutionary rapid manufacturing plastic materials. Delivering black-coloured Duraform EX plastic is yet another example of how attentively we listen to the needs of our customers and how quickly we can respond with a manufacturing capable material that is tough and economical. We anticipate releasing additional rapid manufacturing materials based on Duraform EX plastic in the near future."
Black Duraform EX plastic, for use with all Sinterstation Pro and Sinterstation HiQ series SLS (selective laser sintering) systems, will be available in early 2007.
