European manufacturer 3DGence has announced the launch of a new industrial FFF machine compatible with high-performance materials. Called INDUSTRY F421, it joins the company’s already proven range of printers and seeks to meet the needs of sectors as demanding as aerospace, automotive or medical. In addition to this launch, the company has also added a new high-temperature filament, AS9100, made from PEEK and certified for use in the aerospace and defense industry. 3DGence thus promotes the 3D printing of high-performance finished parts through a reliable and repeatable process.
Additive manufacturing users are now looking for increased productivity through easy-to-implement, automated processes. In addition, they look for materials that provide good mechanical and chemical properties and, at the same time, allow the creation of complex shapes at low cost. The extrusion process offers an interesting alternative as it remains affordable and compatible with a wide range of materials, including high-performance polymers that offer very good heat resistance, high strength and light weight compared to metals. As such, more and more market players are developing this type of solution, including 3DGence.
The new solutions from 3DGence (photo credits: 3DGence)
INDUSTRY F421, a High Performance FFF Machine
In November 2019, 3DGence introduced its INDUSTRY F420 printer, a fast solution for high-performance materials. Now the manufacturer has brought some improvements with the INDUSTRY F421, including in terms of mechanics, components, safety features but also workflow. With a print volume of 380 x 380 x 420 mm and a speed of 400 mm/s, the new 3D printer integrates a heated chamber, interchangeable print modules and a filtration system to ensure operator safety. It is compatible with composite materials, PEEK, ULTEM and PEKK.
Mateusz Sidorowicz, Marketing Director at 3DGence, adds: “With a focus on industry certified materials such as AS9100 PEEK, ULTEM™ and advanced materials for medical applications, the requirement for sequential printing of end-use parts prompted the newest version of our INDUSTRY portfolio. The rigid kinematics system has been optimized for high-speed, high-precision dual-head printing, a higher constant chamber temperature, the extrusion system is fully compound-ready with increased durability, and the new tablet-oriented display has an interface improved user interface. -friendly workflow.”
INDUSTRY F421 enables 3D printing of finished aerospace parts (photo credits: 3DGence)
A certified aerospace material
In addition to this machine upgrade, 3DGence offers a new certified PEEK filament for aerospace applications. Known for its high strength, anti-corrosive properties, and flame and heat resistance, PEEK is a popular polymer in demanding industries. However, the certification stage can sometimes be a barrier to adoption in additive manufacturing, especially when it comes to printing finished parts. With this PEEK, 3DGence intends to eliminate certain barriers: the filament is recognized by the American AS9100 certification, thus guaranteeing the quality of production and the traceability of the material.
Ron Faruqui, CEO of 3DGence Americas, says: “At 3DGence, we are supporting our customers across industries in expanding the use of high-temperature and composite materials for end-use applications. They can now quickly prototype and produce final proof-of-concept parts in PEEK, with no question about material qualification and compliance.” Finally, the manufacturer says that this PEEK has an operating temperature of up to 260°C.
PEEK filament from 3DGence (photo credits: 3DGence)
Towards greater automation and reliability
With this goal of making the manufacturing process repeatable, reliable, and automated, 3DGence has developed its Material Management System (MMS), a solution to better store, prepare, and post-process materials, including high-performance filaments. The latter require special attention when it comes to these different steps, since poor handling or preparation can affect the performance of the final piece and be very expensive. The objective of this MMS system is to support the printing and management of industrial quality parts.
Finally, 3DGence will offer a 3-year warranty on its F421 and F350 machines starting in 2022 in some European markets and after 2023 in others; however, it is not yet known which ones. The manufacturer wants to show its commitment to providing the best possible user experience while focusing on increased productivity. Find out more about the new 3DGence machine HERE and come see our new technology live at Hannover Messe!
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