German RepRap, a 3D printer manufacturer in Bayern, is in Detroit for RAPID + TCT 2019 with partners 3DChimera, a 3D printer reseller from Florida, and DuPont Transportation & Advanced Polymers, a division of DowDuPont, one of the largest chemical producers in the world.
CEO of 3DChimera, Alex Hussain, said, “We are honored to showcase the capabilities of the new DuPont High-Performance materials on the German RepRap x500, which is the most popular and capable 3D printer in our product offering.”
Furthermore, at the Dow Chemical Company stand, RDAbbott, a rubber expert and supplier, is exhibiting silicone rubber materials 3D printed on German RepRap’s Liquid Additive Manufacturing system.
3D printing liquid rubber
German RepRap has been manufacturing 3D printers since 2010. Its FDM/FFF line of 3D printers include, x400, x500, and x1000. The x500 has received particular attention from automobile manufacturers like Sika Automotive and BMW who is using the printer to speed up production.
In addition to FDM/FFF technology, German RepRap has also developed a Liquid Additive Manufacturing machine, the L280.
With a build volume of 280 x 280 x 200 mm, the L280 is an extrusion-based system which uses liquid materials such as liquid rubber. At the moment L280 is compatible only with Silastic LC 3335 Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR), developed by Dow Chemical Company. But in the future, it is expected that the range of materials will be extended.
DowDuPont’s in 3D printing
DuPont had its beginning as a chemical manufacturer in 1802. In 2017, it merged with DOW Chemical Company, which ranks among the three largest chemical producers, to form DowDuPont.
Through Dow Chemical Company and DuPont Transportation & Advanced Polymers, DowDuPont publicly entered the 3D printing market with the launch the EVOLV3D Universal Support Material in 2017.
Last year, DuPont Transportation & Advanced Polymers introduced carbon and glass-based filaments called, Zytel 3D12G30FL BK309 and Zytel 3D10C20FL BK544, extending the Zytel line of filaments. These were developed in collaboration with German RepRap.
Dow also introduced the Silastic LC 3335 Liquid Silicone Rubber, which is currently being used by Danish shoemaker ECCO, to develop a shoe customization platform, Quant-U.
Furthermore, EVOLV3D Olefin Block Copolymer (OBC) printing filament, a polyethylene-based material for end-use parts will also be on display at RAPID + TCT 2019. With this release, DOW is planning to introduce a whole product of recyclable materials that can be used for end-use manufacturing.
To learn more about DowDuPont, German RepRap and RDAbbott, head to Dow Chemical Company’s booth 1673 at RAPID + TCT 2019. People interested in German RepRap x500 can visit DuPont Transportation & Advanced Polymers booth 552.
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Featured image shows German RepRap’s L280 3D printing Liquid Silicone Rubber. Image via German RepRap.
