Objet Debuts New 3D Printing Materials for UK Market at PDM Today!

Objet will be presenting the latest additions to its portfolio of 65(!) 3D printing materials at PDM 2011, today, at the ExCel Center in London. Stand 54.

The new materials – both the ABS-like Digital Material for simulating ABS-grade engineering plastics and the Clear Transparent material (Objet VeroClear) for rapid prototyping of water-clear transparent parts became commerically available from April 13th this year. They are now debuting in the UK – and are fully available for UK-companies requiring advanced rapid prototyping and 3D printing.

About the ABS-like 3D Printing Material:

For manufacturers and engineers looking to simulate ABS-grade engineering plastics, Objet’s ABS-like Digital Material (RGD5160-DM) provides a high temperature resistance of 65°C straight from the printer (90°C with post-thermal treatment) and a high toughness of 65-80J/m.

The material is excellent for simulating snap-fit parts (like the clip in the photo), durable and movable parts (like these scissors that can very effectively cut paper!), and products requiring drop-testing.

The ABS-like material’s unique properties are made possible by Objet’s simultaneous multi-material 3D printing technology that’s available on the company’s Objet Connex family of 3D printers. The system allows users to select and print special composite Digital Materials – of which the new ABS-like Digital Material is just one out of a total of 51. The system can also print a grand total of 65 different materials including up to 14 different materials in a single printed part.

The Objet Connex350 and Objet Connex500 multi-material 3D printers will also be showcased at the show.

About the Clear Transparent Material:

The Objet VeroClear material provides clear optical and visual transparency combined with great dimensional stability.

The material allows designers to simulate PMMA (a common glass substitute) in glass-like applications such as lighting cases and covers, lenses, eye-wear and cosmetics containers.

The material is also excellent for visualizing liquid-flows within a system (like in the photo on the left) and is useful in medical applications where it's important to visualize bone structure within a limb or nerves or blood vessels within an organ.