Learn About
Additive Manufacturing Technology
Additive manufacturing is the industrial production name for 3D Printing. This is a computer-controlled process that creates three dimensional objects by depositing a variety of materials, typically in layers, to create a product. This allows for the creation of products with precise geometric shapes.
This technology is contrast to the traditional manufacturing which requires machining or other techniques to remove surplus material. Unlike traditional manufacturing which creates a significant amount of waste, additive manufacturing uses only what it needs to create the product. One thing you will notice in current products on the market that utilize more traditional methods, the products lack in the design and complexity department due to cost. Companies want to have products on a machine for the least amount of time which inevitably takes away the effective and cool things you can engineer.
We are designing with Additive Manufacturing in mind! That allows us to think more about what we want the product to do and look like rather than cost regarding machine time. We are changing the way we think about how these parts currently look versus how they can and should look! We are tapping into the same production methods that the Aerospace and Medical sectors are starting to utilize regularly. From ideas to reality in minutes!
Materials
Below is a list of some of the materials utilized in our company. These materials are continuously advancing year by year and we plan to utilize them!
PA 12: From our HP Multi Jet Fusion printer we utilize a PA 12 material. 40% glass bead filled thermoplastic material with both optimal mechanical properties and high reusability. It provides dimensional stability along with repeatability. Designed for production of functional parts across a variety of industries.
Carbon Fiber Onyx: The Onyx material coupled with our Markforged printer provides a micro carbon fiber filled nylon that provides extremely accurate parts with a near flawless surface finish. It is high strength, tough, and chemical resistant when it is printed alone. We always reinforce it utilizing continuous carbon fibers to yield aluminum strength parts.
PA-CF: Our PA-CF material is formulated using a PA6 copolymer that is reinforced with high-modulus carbon fiber. This is utilized on products for structural purposes with high modulus, improved chemical and thermal resistance and great surface finish. We can produce parts with less material while not sacrificing stiffness.
PETG: For the products not needing the same performance as a carbon fiber or PA 12, we utilize PETG. This material offers a smooth finish, high strength and is unaffected by water-based chemicals.