3D Printing

3D Printers use high grade and high-performance thermoplastics, photopolymers, and metals that are historically used in engineering – and manufacturing processes. With our printers we can produce complex high-requirement parts in a fast and efficient manner while providing flexibility, responsiveness, and control that cannot be obtained with historical manufacturing processes. All produced parts have a smooth surface finish. Systems 3D Offers a Variety of 3D Printing Technologies. This includes our FDM 3D printing service.

FDM (FFF) – Fused Deposition Modelling

FDM manufacturing is the process of extruding a thermoplastic filament over a heated a extrusion tip and laying down the melted plastic in and organised pattern so as to create functional and usable items. Following is a list of the materials we work in and typical characteristics and applications for the respective materials.

Nylon 12

Combines strength with excellent fatigue properties

Is suitable for applications requiring:

Repetitive snap fits
High fatigue resistance
Strong chemical resistance
Press (friction) fit inserts
Tooling, jigs and fixtures
Covers
Panels
Vibration resistant components

Primarily used in:

Aerospace
Automotive
Motorsport
Consumer goods
Manufacturing of all types

ASA (Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate)

ASA is now the most popular all-purpose FDM thermoplastic used for FDM prototyping and for the production of functional end-use components. ASA exceeds the mechanical properties of ABS.

Charteristics and Qualities:

Provides exceptional UV stability
As a thermoplastic it is very strong
Available in a wide range of colour and matte finish
Offers the best aesthetics of any FDM thermoplastic
Ideal for attractive prototypes

Uses and Industries

Consumer sporting goods
Tools and fixtures
Automotive components and accessories.
End-use parts
Outdoor commercial use
Infrastructure use

PLA (Polyactic Acid)

Is a bio-plastic derived from corn and is a very popular filament among the “maker crowd” due to its relatively inexpensive price and biodegradability.

Characteristics:

Hard
Strong
Low rate of thermal expansion

Suitable for:

Consumer (non-industrial) based applications
Prototypes
Functional models not requiring to be able to function under stress or load
Indoor decorative applications for home and commercial use

Polycarbonate ISO (PC-ISO)

An industrial thermoplastic, which in its raw state, is biocompatible (ISO 10993 USP Class VI) and can be gamma or EtO sterilized. It is a strong, heat-resistant engineering plastic.

Commonly used in:

Food and drug packaging
Medical device manufacturing

Polycarbonate ABS (PC-ABS)

One of the most extensively used industrial thermoplastics in industry. This is because it contains a combination of properties from both materials both of which have properties that are desirable. PC offers heat resistance. ABS offers flexibility.

Industries used in:

Automotive
Electronics
Telecommunications

Applications:

Conceptual Modelling
Functional Prototyping
Manufacturing Tools
End-use Parts

Polycarbonate (PC)

Lets engineers and designers combine the speed and agility of 3D printing with the reliability of the most widely used industrial thermoplastics. PC is a true industrial thermoplastic that creates strong parts that withstand functional testing.

Widely used in:

Automotive
Aerospace
Medical
Coneptual Modelling
Functional Prototyping
Manufacturing Tools
End-use parts (consumer & industrial)
Many other applications

Offers:

Accuracy
Durability
Stability
Superior mechanical properties to ABS and a number of other thermoplastics

FDM is Trademarked by Stratasys Corporation so many other companies need to use their terminology Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF).