High performance 3D printing material PA12 is now available ~ SAF material offers better part rigidity and lowers cost per part ~

To give manufacturers access to durable, low-cost Selective Absorption Fusion (SAF) materials, UK provider of Stratasys 3D printing solutions, Tri-Tech 3D, has now made Polyamide (PA) 12 available to its users. This versatile polymer can deliver dimensional accuracy in volume production, at lower costs than existing SAF powders, in a range of applications, including consumer goods, automotive parts or machinery components.

PA12 is a high performance polymer designed to deliver the highest level of accuracy when compared to similar powder bed fusion materials. Better thermal control improves part consistency, enabling users to develop complex geometries and rigid parts. When using PA12, users can more efficiently nest end-use parts together — achieving on average a standard twelve per cent nesting density. This can lead to lower cost per part and faster part turnaround, making it ideal for higher volume production. At volume PA12 also delivers fine feature resolution, resulting in strong, functional and accurate parts that meet higher tolerance requirements when developing intricate components.

“After listening to feedback about PA11 from users, its great to see that users now have access to the best powder bed material on the market,” explained Robert Pitts, sales manager at Tri-Tech 3D. “Its thermal control and chemical stability improves part consistency, making it viable for a range of applications both for prototyping and mass production, including complex end-use parts, manufacturing aids and automotive parts.

“The material’s features make it a great material choice for AM users, particularly service bureaus that develop a range of parts in different applications. Its chemical resistance, thermal controls and other properties mean users can develop functional prototypes or batches of end-use products using the same material on the same platform — a game changer in the field,” concluded Pitts.

PA12 is now available for use in a variety of manufacturing applications and is compatible with the Stratasys H350 3D Printer. The platform features industrial-grade SAF technology to deliver accurate, consistent end-use products at higher production rates on the shop floor. A range of finishing properties are also available when using this material, enabling users to develop production-grade parts with the required surface for applications such as high-quality consumer products, machine components or functional parts such as gears and clips.

To see a range of sample parts built with PA12 and try this material for yourself, contact Tri-Tech 3D.

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