HIGH-TEMPERATURE FILAMENTS DEVELOPED WITH SELF-BUILT PRINTER
Users can now use a lubrication- and maintenance-free filament to produce heat-resistant special parts with iglidur J350 high-performance plastic, available in Australia and New Zealand through Treotham Automation.
High temperatures create problems not only for many machine elements in plants but also for conventional 3D printers. In order to develop new filaments for wear-resistant parts in high-temperature applications, igus engineers built a high-temperature 3D printer using in-house mechanical engineering components. They relied on heat-resistant stainless steel components of the maintenance-free drylin W linear guide and smooth-running dryspin high helix lead screws in the x, y and z axes. Lubrication-free liners and lead screw nuts made from the wear-resistant high-performance plastics iglidur X and iglidur C500 ensure precise adjustment of the building board, even with installation space temperatures up to 200°C.
“In the new 3D printer, we rely on standard components from igus, which work reliably even with the high installation space temperatures. We use a nozzle that can melt the filament at a temperature of up to 400°C,” explains Tom Krause, Head of the Additive Manufacturing Business Unit at igus. “Thus we were able to develop and extensively test a new filament for high-temperature environments with iglidur J350.”
Treotham already offers lubrication-free iglidur J350 as plain bearings and bar stock. This high-performance plastic is characterised above all by its extremely high wear resistance and low coefficient of friction on steel. The endurance runner is particularly suitable for rotation and has a high dimensional stability at temperatures up to 180°C. Medium to high loads are no problem. Using the high-temperature 3D printer, the filament can be processed well on a printing plate equipped with a PET film.
Typical applications for the new filament can be found in vending machine technology, the automotive sector, the glass industry and mechanical engineering. In addition to iglidur J350, six more igus filaments are available from Treotham, from materials approved for food contact up to chemical-grade materials.
Treotham Automation
1300 657 564
www.treotham.com.au