Stratasys is kicking the year off with a whole new suite of colors for its line of ASA thermoplastics and additions to its Digital Materials portfolio. Having launched its ASA FDM 3D printing material for its Fortus systems in September of 2014, the 3D printing industry leader has greatly added to its latest line of plastics. The ASA series of UV resistant, strong, and durable FDM feedstock has grown from ivory and black to include eight new colors: red, orange, dark and light grays, yellow, green, dark blue, and white. Due to the matte finish of the ASA line, Stratasys claims that fine details like printed text are much easier to produce than with ABS plastic. The new colors can be printed with the company’s Fortus 360mc, 380mc, 400mc, 450mc and 900mc 3D Production Systems
On top of their thermoplastics, Stratasys also announced 20 new two-component Digital Materials to its 1,000-deep portfolio of PolyJet material options. The additional material types are made through the combination of the company’s simulated polypropylene, Endur, with other base materials. The new Digital Materials include eight rigid types in six shades of gray and two shades of white, and twelve flexible Shore A options, six of which combine Endur with TangoBlackPlus and six that mix Endur with TangoPlus. All of these materials can printed on Stratasys’ Objet 3D printers: the Objet EdenV, Objet EdenVS, Objet Connex systems, Objet30 Prime and Objet 30Pro 3D Printers.
While the ASA feeedstock might be suited for durable applications such as sporting goods, tools, electrical devices, toys and automotive parts, the Digital Materials fit prototyping applications, from living hinges and snap-fits to CD cases and gaskets. Boaz Jacobi, director of product management for PolyJet consumables, elaborates, “By introducing Endur Digital Materials, we are giving customers more flexibility and versatility to 3D print durable prototypes. It’s a superior PolyJet solution for living-hinge and snap-fit applications.”
For more specific information regarding the exact physical characteristics of these materials, as well as their possible uses, visit Stratasys online.
