German-based large-format 3D printer manufacturer BigRep has added Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate (ASA) and Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) to its material portfolio.
The filaments are designed for use in the automotive industry, but also have applications in end-use sports and outdoors consumer products. The newly-added materials are suitable for use with BigRep’s STUDIO G2 and PRO (ACE) Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) 3D printers.
BigRep says that the new additions reflect the company’s “application-focused” approach, in which it’s working closely with business partners to address specific material requirements for advanced processes.
“With these two new engineering-grade materials, customers will now be able to use industry-standard ABS and ASA materials in large-format 3D printing, taking full advantage of our 3D printers’ speed, precision and quality,” said BigRep Managing Director, Martin Back.
BigRep’s 3D printing credentials
Founded in 2014, the Berlin-based company specializes in the production of large scale parts, and launched its newest FFF 3D printers, the STUDIO G2 and PRO 3D in May 2019. Both 3D printers are designed to create large parts to cater to partners in the aerospace, automotive, and defense sectors. The STUDIO G2 has a print volume of 500 mm x 1000 mm x 500 mm, and the PRO 3D features a build envelope of one cubic meter, enabling the continuous printing of large-format objects.
BigRep has utilized its 3D printing technology in various large scale applications and projects. For example, the company 3D printed a large 4m x 4m sculptural wall made from 100 percent recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in August 2019. The walls were produced for an urban green habitat installation named GENESIS Eco Screen using four BigRep ONE 3D printers.
Recently, BigRep opened a 3D PARTLAB at its new Boston headquarters in February 2020, to provide easier access to its large-format parts. The facility offers customized ordering services for 3D printed parts and aims to support partners and customers who are over capacity.
The large-scale specialists have also been seeking to broaden the applications of its technologies into the Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) of large format parts. In November 2019, the company announced a collaboration with fellow German 3D printer manufacturers EOS and the division of the Etihad Aviation Group, Etihad Engineering, to open a 3D printing facility in Abu Dhabi, dedicated to MRO services.
BigRep has since been steadily expanding its suite of available materials for its printers, with the company adding PA6/66, PET-CF, PLX, and BVOH for use in its Pro, Edge, and Studio G2 systems, later that month.
The new additive manufacturing materials
The company’s latest addition, ABS, is a versatile, impact-resistant material, with mechanical properties such as high temperature and warping resistance, making it suitable for end-use in factory tooling and prototypes with complex geometries. Based on established FFF materials used in the automotive industry, its lightweight properties (1.08g/cm³) make it suitable for use with injection molding and extrusion methods.
ASA on the other hand, is a UV-resistant filament, with high mechanical resistance, low shrinkage, and better layer adhesion. The filament displays a greater heat resistance than ABS, and it’s UV and weather-resistant properties prevent color from aging or fading in industrial or automotive end-use parts.
The company produced two showcase parts in the form of side mirrors and an engine cover to demonstrate the materials’ UV and heat resistant qualities, in addition to their automotive applications.
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Featured image shows the BigRep STUDIO G2. Photo via BigRep
