Additive manufacturing continues to develop–and thrive as an business acknowledged for groundbreaking expertise and revolutionary merchandise. Anticipated to develop at a compound annual development fee of 20.8% from 2022 to 2030, shipments of 3D printed merchandise are projected to achieve 21.5 million items by the tip of that point interval.

Whereas prototyping has led the market, accounting for over half of 3D printing international income in 2021, analysis reveals that the “practical elements section is anticipated to broaden at a big CAGR of 21.4% from 2022 to 2030.” Additive manufacturing with metallic supplies is anticipated to proceed trending, and projected to broaden extra extensively than another section.

Whether or not you’re creating signature items or designing high-performance elements, the important thing to success is aligning the proper additive manufacturing supplies along with your design and utility. Shapeways makes this simple with 3D printability evaluation, accessible as quickly as you add a 3D mannequin. Making ready forward of time and turning into educated on supplies and expertise, nevertheless, could make the design and manufacturing course of simpler.

Following is details about widespread additive manufacturing supplies from Shapeways, together with details about corresponding expertise, accessible colours, and finishes.

Metallic Additive Manufacturing Supplies

Metallic 3D printing continues to be one of many hottest tendencies, permitting for very sturdy elements which might be additionally light-weight. Metallic supplies are in excessive demand for additive manufacturing purposes like automotive, aerospace, and drone expertise. At Shapeways, the jewellery sector continues to flourish by way of Wax Casting with treasured metals too, accompanied by 3D printed molds.

A big share of metallic powders will be recycled, lending sustainability to additive manufacturing for metallic in addition to the business general. For supplies like Stainless Metal 316L, 3D printed with Binder Jetting, metallic elements make up solely seven to 10 % of most builds, permitting for all of the remaining metallic 3D printing powder to be sifted and reintroduced with virgin powder.

Shapeways gives quite a lot of metallic additive manufacturing supplies, to incorporate:

• Aluminum – Advisable for additive manufacturing purposes that require energy, a light-weight nature, and excessive precision, Shapeways 3D prints Aluminum elements with Selective Laser Melting. SLM 3D printing is understood for the power to create extremely custom-made, subtle elements with intricate particulars. Shapeways clients depend on Aluminum for stiffness, accuracy, and excessive thermal conductivity for making practical elements and instruments.

• Gold, Platinum, Silver and different treasured metals – Shapeways gives quite a lot of merchandise in treasured metals by way of Misplaced Wax Casting. Molds are 3D printed for metallic casting with prime quality supplies for purposes like jewellery. Supplies like Copper are highlighted for different merchandise like marine equipment, mechanical units like warmth exchanges, dwelling decor, and prototypes.

• Stainless Metal 316L – A single metallic alloy, Stainless Metal 316L consists of 100% Stainless Metal. Advisable for industrial merchandise like mechanical equipment or surgical tooling, this metallic additive manufacturing materials is immune to corrosion in addition to excessive temperatures. Stainless Metal 316L is 3D printed with Binder Jetting expertise, recognized for velocity, and accuracy and repeatability in metallic elements.

• Stainless Metal 17-4 PH – Additionally 3D printed with Binder Jetting, Stainless Metal 17-4 PH yields extremely sturdy elements with glorious decision and powerful materials properties. This metallic additive manufacturing materials is advisable for mechanical purposes, medical purposes requiring units like surgical tooling, exchangers, fasteners, and extra.

• Metal – This metallic materials consists of 40% bronze and 60% metal, with coloration ranges from silver grey to reddish bronze. Metal is a powerful materials, advisable for small and enormous client merchandise. This materials can also be 3D printed with Binder Jetting expertise.

Nylon Thermoplastics for Additive Manufacturing

Whereas 3D printing permits designers and engineers to discover numerous new avenues for creating and customizing elements, additive manufacturing supplies like thermoplastics present the mandatory energy, flexibility, and adaptableness. Nylon 12 [Versatile Plastic] serves as an exemplary materials for a variety of elements. This materials gives excessive ductility, permitting for excellent flexibility for thinner buildings, and essential rigidity for thicker elements. 

Accessible finishes:

• Pure
• Processed
• Premium
• Clean

Colours: Versatile Plastic is of course white. Shapeways additionally gives Black, Pink, Crimson, Orange, Yellow, Inexperienced, Blue, and Purple.

Nylon 12 [Versatile Plastic] is 3D printed by way of Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), often known as probably the most highly effective additive manufacturing applied sciences. The common construct measurement of an SLS 3D printer is round 300 x 300 x 300 mm, permitting for large-scale elements. SLS 3D printing gives expanded design freedom too as assist buildings aren’t required. Typical purposes for this materials and expertise embody:

• Structure
• Aerospace and drones
• Jewellery
• Mechanical and interlocking elements
• Medical fashions
• Robotics

Different widespread 3D printing thermoplastics:

• MJF Plastic PA12 – 3D printed with Multi Jet Fusion expertise, MJF PA12 is a heat-resistant thermoplastic used for elements requiring excessive dimensional accuracy and finely tuned mechanical properties. This additive manufacturing materials is obtainable in grey and black, with a selection of pure or clean finishes.
• Nylon 11 [PA11(SLS)] – 3D printed by way of SLS, this materials is exclusive as a result of it’s derived from castor oil. Nylon 11 is eco-friendly and simply recycled. This materials is widespread for 3D printing attributable to good impact- and chemical-resistance, excessive elasticity, and excessive elongation at break. Nylon 11 [PA11(SLS)] is obtainable in normal white.
• Polypropylene (PP) – 3D printed with each SLS and MJF 3D printing, Polypropylene gives nice tensile energy, biocompatibility, and resistance to each moisture and chemical compounds. This materials is obtainable in an off-white end with SLS 3D printing, and a pure grey end with MJF expertise.
• Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) – Also referred to as Addigy® P3001, this materials can also be extraordinarily versatile, presenting glorious mechanical properties like good ductility and excessive elongation at break. Standard with producers attributable to flexibility for interlocking and industrial elements, Addigy P3001 is 3D printed with SLS 3D printing. This thermoplastic 3D printing materials is obtainable in black or white with choices for pure or clean shiny finishes.
• Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) – 3D printed with each SLS and MJF 3D printing, this materials consists of each thermoplastics and rubber, offering superior tensile energy, elongation at break, glorious load-bearing capability, and resistance. TPU is obtainable in a regular end when 3D printed with SLS, and each grey and black with choices for pure or clean finishes with MJF expertise.

Full Coloration Supplies

Coloration has develop into vital for a lot of 3D printing tasks, from photorealistic architectural or medical fashions to vibrant tabletop gaming characters. Coloration in 3D printing can also be useful for delineating elements like sensors in electronics. Whereas it’s attainable to dye Nylon 12 [Versatile Plastic] elements in 9 completely different colours, Shapeways additionally gives the next for 3D printing with coloration:

Excessive Definition Full Coloration – That includes coloration choices in ten million hues, this 3D printing materials is advisable for tasks with necessities for actual coloration matches. Previsualization of 3D printed fashions is less complicated, together with the power so as to add wealthy element, shading, and distinction. Excessive Definition Full Coloration is 3D printed by way of Materials Jetting. This expertise depends on eight tiny piezoelectric printheads to put resin droplets on the construct plate. Every layer is cured by UV mild till the construction is full, leading to distinctive, intricate elements. Components can be found in normal and matte finishes.

Nylon 12 in Full Coloration with Multi Jet Fusion – Nylon 12 Full Coloration (MJF) permits for improved aesthetics, in addition to better energy as a result of capability to soak up thermal power so deeply. This 3D printing materials gives excellence in mechanical properties, good dimensional stability, and resistance to grease, grease, and different chemical compounds. 3D printed with Multi Jet Fusion, Nylon 12 Full Coloration elements can be found in pure and clean finishes.

Resin-Primarily based Additive Manufacturing Supplies

Shapeways gives a collection of acrylates recognized for accuracy and precision in smaller elements, good floor end, and watertight properties. 3D printed with Stereolithography (SLA) for merchandise like complicated grasp patterns for molds, 3D printed fashions, and industrial elements, Shapeways gives the next Accura® SLA Supplies:

• Accura 60 is a translucent, acrylate-based plastic suited to difficult practical assemblies that require transparency. Accessible in a semi-clear end, this additive manufacturing materials gives glorious readability and excessive rigidity.
• Accura Xtreme™ is a grey acrylate providing good impression resistance, and is advisable for 3D printing complicated, practical elements. This materials is obtainable in a regular end solely,
• Accura Xtreme™ 200 is a white acrylate, set aside by ultra-tough mechanical properties, and recognized for resisting breakage. This materials is obtainable in a regular end solely.

About Shapeways

Get pleasure from the advantages of this superior expertise and a variety of supplies from Shapeways for 3D printing your creations with accuracy, complicated element, and no minimal or limits by way of mass customization or single half orders. Shapeways has labored with over 1 million clients in 160 nations to 3D print over 21 million elements! Examine case research, discover out extra about Shapeways additive manufacturing options, and get on the spot quotes right here.