3DPRINTUK expands portfolio with SAF technology from Stratasys
Adding to the suite of EOS SLS machines and HP MJF machines that the company has been running for more than a decade
3DPRINTUK, a London-based industrial 3D printing service provider, is delighted to announce that it has added a new polymer powder bed fusion (PBF) 3D printing process to its portfolio of industrial manufacturing systems, specifically SAF technology from Stratasys. This further expands the manufacturing capabilities and capacity of 3DPRINTUK, based in London, UK, and adds to the suite of EOS Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) machines and HP MultiJet Fusion (MJF) machines that the company has been running for more than a decade.
SAF – or Selective Absorption Fusion – technology, like MJF, is based on the high-speed sintering process developed by Professor Neil Hopkinson, who has been the VP of Additive Manufacturing Technology at Stratasys since November 2021. The focus of this production-grade AM process is the manufacturing of higher volumes of accurate, consistent, and repeatable parts.
“We have built our reputation as a service provider of high-quality polymer 3D printed parts on demand over many years. This means that we have extensive expertise and experience in this area. When Stratasys introduced the SAF process, it was a new and interesting proposition that we could not ignore, and the addition of the SAF H350 machine slots comfortably into our extensive portfolio. Incidentally, the SAF H350 system is the first one of its kind being used by a service provider in the UK, so we are looking forward to showing our clients what it is capable of. And, in the tradition of 3DPRINTUK, we have tested the system to the extreme over 18 months to ensure that the consistency and quality of parts meets the standards of 3DPRINTUK. Launching the machine as part of our service will significantly extend our output and capacity,” said Nick Allen, CEO of 3DPRINTUK.
The SAF H350 system has been specifically developed by Stratasys to produce highly efficient part volumes due to its high nesting density capabilities, which also lowers the cost per part.
While these were important considerations in the addition of SAF for 3DPRINTUK, another key driver behind the purchase is that the SAF system allows the company to add a new material to its polymer line-up – Polyamide 11 (PA11). While the SAF platform can process a range of polymer materials, 3DPRINTUK will focus solely on PA11.
PA11 is a Nylon material, produced by the polymerization of 11-aminoundecanoic acid. It is made from renewable resources that come from natural vegetable and castor oil source materials – meaning that it has a lower environmental impact from manufacturing the powder through to the end of life of the products it makes. PA11 is also stronger than P12 and less rigid, with high impact resistance. It also exhibits superior thermal resistance, as well as being stable in light with good resistance to water and moisture.
Off the machine, PA11 SAF parts look a lot like MJF parts but with slightly crisper details thanks to the latest high-definition print mode update from Stratasys. The material is well suited to an array of applications such as automotive interior components, electrical enclosures, drone components, and part series, as well as mechanically loaded functional prototypes. Any parts produced using SAF can be finished with 3DPRINTUK’s extensive post-processing options.
With the launch of its new material, SAF PA11 ECO, the company is offering a free sample part with every order so that customers can test the material on their parts without any financial risk. To take advantage of this opportunity, customers can upload their own design up to the value of £10 and select SAF PA11 as the material option, or 3DPRINTUK can include its pre-designed sample with customer orders.
