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New SLS material from igus makes 3D printing of chemical-resistant tribo components possible

Photo by igus GmbH

igus is expanding the scope of its 3D printing service: From now on, chemical-resistant, lubricant-free tribopolymer components can be manufactured in selective laser sintering (SLS). This evolutionary step is made possible by a new printing material for SLS printers: iglidur I10 is resistant to acids, bases, alcohols as well as greases and is therefore suitable for use in plants of the electroplating and food industries, among others.

The new iglidur I10 SLS printing material is not only resistant to acids, bases, alcohols, greases and oils. It is also characterized by low moisture absorption, high toughness and high ductility – by this is meant the property of a material to permanently deform under shear load before breaking. Iglidur I10 is therefore an ideal material for weight-saving industrial functional components with elastic properties.

High food safety: new SLS printing material is FDA-compliant

There are numerous applications for the new printing material. For example, iglidur I10 will be increasingly used in the electroplating industry in the future. Here, 3D-printed components that are in electrolytic baths for coating processes must be resistant to acids. Otherwise, there is a risk of defects and, in the worst case, equipment failure. “However, the new material is also interesting for applications in the packaging and food industries,” says Tom Krause, head of the Additive Manufacturing business unit at igus. “This is because we are one of the few manufacturers to have had the SLS printing material certified according to the specifications of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).” The new material also complies with EU Regulation 10/2011, which certifies that the plastic is harmless in contact with food.

3D printing service produces industrial components within a few days

igus will also offer the new printing material in its in-house 3D printing service. Customers can then upload a STEP file online with the 3D model of the desired component and select the quantity and printing material. igus then manufactures the lubrication- and maintenance-free elements using 3D printers for selective laser sintering. In this process, a laser fuses ultra-thin powder layers of the material on a building platform, which is lowered layer by layer. Step by step, the component is created in this way. “The process has the advantage that it does not require any tools and is therefore significantly cheaper and faster than classic processes such as injection molding, especially for prototypes and small series,” explains Krause. As a result, the customer usually holds the 3D-printed component made of iglidur I10 in his hands five days after receipt of the order.

For more information, please visit: https://www.igus.de/