Global chemicals producer SABIC, headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has launched a breakaway material for FFF 3D printers. Made as a support for the company’s AM9085F PEI filament, AMS31F is a solution designed to alleviate the manual effort required in post processing. Suitable for parts with simple support structures, it is capable of being removed at room temperature.
Keith Cox, Senior Business Manager of Additive Manufacturing at SABIC, comments, “Using structural supports to print parts with complex geometries is essential, but it can also be quite challenging.”
“[…] By offering a complementary support material for our ULTEM™ AM9085F filament, SABIC is providing a complete material solution that helps customers save time and effort.”
Supporting high performance 3D printing
AM9085F filament is part of SABIC’s ULTEM™material range. Derived from the company’s ULTEM™9085 resin, this material has a high heat resistance and mechanical strength. It is a polyetherimide (PEI), making it a cheaper relative of popular high performance polymer PEEK, a popular option for end-use tooling components, and functional prototypes. In properties however, PEI has a lower impact strength and usable temperature in comparison to its polyether ether ketone cousin.
Valuable to the production of tools exposed to chemicals and high temperature, Sabic’s ULTEM™range has found a variety of applications across medical, automotive and aerospace sectors. Notably, labelled under Stratasys, a particular strain of ULTEM™has been standardized for use in Airbus aircraft interiors. And recently the application of the material was credited with landing two aerospace manufacturing contracts for Spanish aerospace and engineering company Indaero.
Now, with the launch of AMS31F support, SABIC is facilitating the use of ULTEM™AM9085F, and allowing operators greater freedom with build-plate part orientation.
SABIC AMS31F
AMS31F support material has been specifically tested for processing in Stratasys Fortus Classic 3D printers. However, the company also stipulates that it is compatible with “a variety of open architecture industrial printers.”
The material has already been tested by a number of SABIC customers including, Italian 3D printer OEM 3ntr, and Ohio 3D printing service bureau Rapid Prototype + Manufacturing LLC (RP+M).
According to 3ntr CEO Davide Ardizzoia, “The adhesion between the ULTEM™AM9085F filament and SABIC’s new AMS31F support filament is excellent at high temperatures and detaches easily at room temperature, eliminating the need to reheat parts,” as in competing breakaway supports.
Tracy Albers, President of RP+M, adds, “The ease of support material removal simplifies our secondary operations process and provides a higher quality part for our customers.”
SABIC is now offering potential customers the opportunity to order a sample of AMS31F support directly through the company.
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Featured image shows 3D printed ULTEM™ AM9085F automotive oil pump with AMS31F supports attached. Photo via SABIC
