Alex, Author at re:3D | Life-Sized Affordable 3D Printing

Specialty Filament

Specialty 3D Printing Filament materials

Specialty materials are unique materials created for specific use cases. Sometimes, common materials like PLA or ABS cannot meet the demands of a specific application and a dedicated material is needed. Specialty materials have been created for casting, smooth surface finishes, flexible parts, high clarity, and support material. Due to the wide range of different applications, specialty materials are not easily classified into other common material categories. The chemical makeup of specialty materials is diverse as well, making each specialty material truly special. If you have a very specific demand for a material, there may be a specialty material to help you out!

Applications for specialty materials are almost entirely driven on the material’s design. Unlike common materials, specialty materials are often created for a specific application. Some of the most common specialty material use cases are given, but specialty materials exist for a wide variety of different applications.

rPC Flake

Polycarbonate (PC) is a high performance material intended for use in engineering and industrial settings. As suggested by its name, PC contains carbonate groups that contribute significantly to its strength and toughness. PC also has excellent temperature resistance, making it useful in high temperature applications as well. Recycled polycarbonate (rPC) comes from regrinding a source of polycarbonate, like failed prints. If you are looking for a strong, industrial material that is also sustainable, rPC is an excellent choice.

rPC’s high performing properties make it a good choice for industrial applications. Parts made from rPC can withstand the demanding environment found in industry. rPC is also perfect for any parts that need to resist high temperatures. rPC is an eco-friendly solution for industrial material when used in pellet printers like Gigabot X since it reuses PC that would typically be discarded.

rPC often comes from regrinding a source of polycarbonate waste. This material is often considered for use in a pellet extrusion machine such as Gigabot X. Polycarbonate is not usually supported by recycling centers since it is grouped into resin code 7 with “other plastics”. Polycarbonate also risks producing bisphenol A, commonly known as BPA.

rPLA Flake

Polylactic Acid, more commonly known as PLA, is one of the most frequently used materials in 3D printing. Its popularity comes from its ease of use, organic nature, and relatively strong mechanical properties. PLA is also inexpensive making it a great entry-level material. PLA also boasts strong mechanical properties and user-friendly thermal properties that make it easy to print with. Its prevalence and ease of use makes it a perfect material to regrind and recycle. For those who prototype often, rPLA is a sustainable solution.

rPLA is a great material for applications that require rapid prototyping and strong parts. Its ease of use and low cost make it suitable when a part may be frequently reprinted as is the case in prototyping and architecture. rPLA is easily recycled, proving to be a sustainable solution for rapid prototyping. Its strength and ease of use make it suitable for those who need to turn over a lot of strong, functional prototypes.

rPLA is created by grinding failed or older PLA prints. Much like normal PLA, rPLA is made from organic sources and is thus compostable. Since PLA is difficult to recycle at commercial recycling centers, regrinding PLA into rPLA and reusing it in pellet printers is a more sustainable alternative.

rPET Pellets

Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) is a durable material with either a glossy appearance or opaque appearance depending on its crystallinity. PET is one of the most common plastics in the world, used in cases like sailcloth, water bottles, and clothes. In the world of 3D printing, PET is often used in the form of PETG which contains glycol. PET and PETG fill a role between PLA and ABS being a tough material and relatively easy to work with. With the rise of pellet printing, PET is growing in relevance as a 3D printing material. PET is also one of the most commonly recycled plastics, making its potential use in 3D printing even more attractive. For those looking for durable parts and a closed loop 3D printing solution, PET is a great material to use.

PET excels when you take advantage of its material properties and its prevalence. Its material properties allow it to perform well in a variety of applications. Its prevalence also makes it a great candidate for recycling and closed loop use cases.

PET is one of the most commonly used recyclable plastics, and often seen in the form of water bottles. The polymer chains that make up PET easily break apart at low temperatures, making PET an easy material to recycle. Being such a common material, there is great potential of recycling and reusing PET. One area of potential use is recycling PET as feedstock for pellet printers like Gigabot X. PET is easily recycled in most recycling centers, and an excellent choice for closed loop solutions due to its prevalence.

PC

Polycarbonate (PC) is a high performance material intended for use in engineering and industrial settings. As suggested by its name, PC contains carbonate groups that contribute significantly to its strength and toughness. PC also has excellent temperature resistance, making it useful in high temperature applications as well. Its strength, toughness, and temperature resistance makes it a useful material for final production or industrial parts. PC is also useful with electronics since it is an insulator.

PC’s high performing properties make it a good choice for industrial applications. Parts made from PC can withstand the demanding environment found in industry. PC is also a good choice for storage, especially electronic enclosures. Since PC does not conduct electricity, sensitive electronics will remain safe in PC enclosures. Many of the parts on re:3D Gigabot printers is made with PC. Finally, PC is perfect for any parts that needs to resist high temperatures.

Polycarbonate is recycled most often into a reground material. This material is often considered for use in a pellet extrusion machine such as GBX. Polycarbonate is not usually supported by recycling centers since it is grouped into resin code 7 with “other plastics”. Polycarbonate also risks producing bisphenol A, commonly known as BPA.

Design Services

Whether it’s a custom 3D printed sign, a custom beer tap handle, machined metal, or even a custom 3D printer, re:3D designers have what it takes to turn your ideas into tangible objects.

Consulting

Would you like to learn how additive manufacturing can help you bring your product to market faster or streamline your company’s workflow? We can show you how you can:

Our world-traveled 3D printing experts can help you achieve these goals by showing you how to unlock the potential of Gigabot’s affordable, cutting edge FFF 3D printing technologies.

3D Scanning

We are now capable of capturing high quality 3D scans of objects up to 13 feet in length. The scans can be made into a 3D printable model or used for reverse engineering. Produced model is only able to capture the geometry of the part, not color. Scans can be done both in house and on site depending on the size of the part. The scanner used: Creaform HandySCAN BLACK^TM Elite.

Material Testing

Would you like help characterizing the best materials for your application? We can provide guidance on material compatibility testing to assess compatible build materials for adhesion or break away support. Send us your filament or pellets and we can print ASTM test samples to be assessed using our materials testing equipment. Once complete, we will send you a qualitative & quantitative report on:

Machine used: ADMET eXpert 2613

Filaments

Pellets | Flake

Print multiple test prints of increasing complexity to optimize print settings. A Simplify3D profile with optimized settings will be provided.

| $500

Use ASTM standards to conduct tensile, 3-point bending, or compression testing to establish material properties for industrial applications.

| $1,250

Custom tests can include multi material testing, various bed adhesives, heat treatment, or other technical tests.

| Contact us for Pricing

Granulate 5kg plastic waste into 4mm particles with our SHINI Low Speed Granulator

| $500

Conduct particle size analysis, dry the material, & load it into Gigabot X to quantify the max extrusion rate. Establishes the initial print temperatures and identifies any extrusion issues.

| $1,000

Print multiple tests articles of increasing complexity to optimize print settings. A Simplify3D profile with optimized settings will be provided.

| $2,250

Use ASTM standards to conduct tensile, 3-point bending, or compression testing to establish material properties for industrial applications.

| $1,250

Contract Prints

Need to 3D print something HUGE? Aside from manufacturing Gigabot 3D printers, re:3D also offers 3D printing services for customers who want to see Gigabot’s quality or print models without having to own a Gigabot.

To order a 3D print, click the contact button below and fill in the form. For custom part files or questions, e-mail our team at printservice@re3d.org. Free samples are printed in PLA and custom parts up to 36″ x 36″ x 42″ can be made in a variety of thermoplastics.