Material Extrusion (FFF) 3D printing technology is still the most widely adopted of all known 7 practices in Additive Manufacturing. Based on materials, its market size is higher than for the rest of the AM technologies.
A key reason for this is the introduction of high performance polymers and engineered polymeric materials to the AM sector through the Material Extrusion technologies. These materials have far reaching meaning in various industries and have traditionally been processed using injection moulding or CNC milling techniques.
In the global AM sector Apium has historically played a pioneering role in the use of high temperature/performance polymer based materials. Its 2015 launch of the PEEK filament and HPP 3D Printer designed for this class of materials set the pace for other machine manufacturers as well as materials suppliers to make entry into this uncharted processing space.
Apium has since introduced PVDF, POM-C and PEI 9085 in 2016 and in 2017 carbon fiber reinforced (CFR) PEEK. What makes Apium’s technology unique is the proprietary temperature management system. This system is specially developed for the handling of the state transformation which occurs when the solid filament material (such as PEEK) changes to the melt state then back to the solid state during the printing process. The rate at which this transformation occurs directly influences the kind of microstructure as well as the macro-physical properties of the 3D printed part.
Apium`s technology has created a unique access to defining how the properties of materials like PEEK can be created from the control of the 3D printing process. PEEK parts 3D Printed using Apium’s P220 printer allow for inducing regions of different crystallinity including the literature specified crystallinity for PEEK in key applications such as medical.
Apium bring the most experience in PEEK 3D Printing, the company`s CTO, Prof. Dr. Brando Okolo has over 16 years of experience in materials research and drives the technological developments for advanced materials. Under his leadership, the technical team at Apium has amassed expertise in the 3D printing of high performance polymers. With this expertise Apium is able to support the end-users in an excellent manner ensuring the transfer of know-how through advanced trainings to achieve best-in-class results from material selection to successfully 3D printed parts.
Apium`s Applications and Services Center is dedicated to best customer experience. It consists of the best of skilled AM engineers with experience in materials science, design engineering for 3D Printing, application engineering and 3D printing of advanced polymers. The team evaluates the requirements of each end-user and establishes an advanced training program. With this advanced training program, end-users will overcome the challenges in Material Extrusion (FFF) 3D Printing of PEEK and other high performance polymers.
