HTS: Additive Manufacturing’s PEEK and Torlon Replacement

Overview

While many 3D printed photopolymers are great for applications where commodity, or even engineering grade plastics, are needed, the industry lacks high throughput solutions (such as SLA/DLP) that can produce parts that match the characteristics of PEEK, Ultem, and other high-performance plastics. A ceramic fiber-reinforced material - High Temperature & Strength (HTS) - combined with the advanced 3D printing technology offers a 3D printed photopolymer that matches the desirable characteristics of high-performance plastics for jigs, fixtures, and end use parts. The mechanical properties of HTS combined with the advantages of DLP printing, such as superior resolution, layer to layer adhesion, isotropy and fully dense nature of the parts, make HTS a viable option for replacing machined plastics at a much lower cost all without complex machining or molding processes.

This webinar will outline the limitations of different 3D printing technologies today and then discuss a new material (HTS) and technology (Digital Composite Manufacturing) as an additive manufacturing solution where the performance characteristics of PEEK, Torlon, and other high-performance plastics are needed. The webinar will dive deep into the material properties of HTS, such as strength, stiffness, and HDT, which set it apart from even the best additive manufacturing polymers. Secondary properties will also be discussed, such as wear and chemical resistance, and compared against other 3D printing materials and traditional manufacturing materials.

Real world examples of cost and lead times of various manufacturing methods will be highlighted, giving audience members a better understanding of the types of applications that would benefit from this technology. We will also discuss how this new 3D printing technology is capable of printing other high-value materials with desired properties such as an ESD-safe material with an HDT of 284C.