4 x CLIP – a round-up of resins for super-quick 3D printing

Technology CLIP electrified lovers of technical novelties from 3D printing industry. Something, what seemed to be unreal, became a fact. Sculpteo was one of the first four companies, which offered a 3D printer using this technology. It tried to compare four resins recommended for M1.

One week ago M1 was announced to be the first device on the market using super-quick technology – CLIP. It is common belief, that a half of success of a 3D printer is a number and type of materials, which can be used to print.  The Sculpteo, offering above all 3D printing services, had a chance to test four basic resins, which can be used in 3D printer, using CLIP.  All of its thoughts were presented on its blog. I am presenting a short specification of these materials below.

EPU – elastomeric polyurethane. It has a rubbery stretchable structure, exhibiting elastic behaviour through a wide range of temperatures. This material is perfect for the use in gaskets, grommets, and flexible watertight seals.

Stamps:

• ultimate tensile strength 5 – 7 MPa,
• elongation at break 250 – 300%,
• Young’s modulus 6 – 8 MPa,
• tear strength 15 – 20 kN/m.

FPU – flexible polyurethane. It is tough and abrasion resistant. It is a great material with properties that resemble injection-molded polypropylen, that is why it is excellent for housewares, toys, rigid packaging and anything else that requires a lightweight and flexible plastic materials.

Stamps:

• elongation at break  200 – 250%,
• Young’s modulus  600 – 850 MPa,
• tear strength  35 – 39 J/mw,
• ultimate tensile strength  23 – 28 MPa.

RPU – rigid polyurethane. It’s the most resistant resin. It is perfect when you need a tough material with a high strength to weight ration or high temperature resistance such as automotive applications. According to Sculpteo, it is good to manufacture computer mice and casings for mobile phones and another electronic devices.

Stamps:

• ultimate tensile strength  40 – 55 MPa,
• elongation at break  90 – 140%,
• Young’s modulus  1500 – 2000 MPa,
• tear strength  58 – 70 °C.

PR – prototyping resin. It is a rigid, low strength material that is perfect for prototyping your designs with remarkable detail prior to moving to production. It is proper for printing very small parts that meet tolerance demands to medium parts with precise patterns.  This is a general purpose material while it is not resistant to high temperatures, and it’s not particularly strong or stiff it does have great resolution and requires the least post processing.

Stamps:

• ultimate tensile strength 26 – 32 MPa,
• elongation at break  15 – 28%,
• Young’s modulus  600 – 950  MPa,
• impact strength  24 – 28  J/m.

As you can see, you have got a list of wide-ranging wide choice of materials, compatible with this advanced technology, which can be used in specific lines of business.

Source: www.3dprint.com