BigRep launches PRO FLEX, the first filament for large scale extrusion 3D printing
BigRep PRO FLEX, the first flexible filament specifically engineered first for the large-scale FDM industry globally was released today. It is a flexible material with engineering-grade properties for a variety of applications.
The new TPU-based material “PRO FLEX” opens up a wealth of possibilities for manufacturers and customers, to use a flexible engineering material that has been expertly developed and tested to work in connection with BigRep’s largest industrial 3D printer, the BigRep ONE, on its standard 1 mm extruder.
PRO FLEX has high-temperature resistance, as well as commendably low-temperature impact resistance. The durable material has excellent damping behavior and dynamic properties, enabling companies to explore a broader range of manufacturing opportunities.
For the automotive industry, it enables prototyping for gear knobs, door handles cable sheathing and more. The sporting goods industry could also foreseeably benefit, as Pro FLEX allows prototyping of skateboard wheels, sporting shoe shells, ski tips and ends.
“Printing elastomers is clearly one of the biggest challenges in the FFF AM industry, so we are proud to have found an industrial-grade solution. In terms of applications with PRO FLEX, we see high potential for 3D printing in fields like footwear, custom vibration dampers, and seals, due to its high chemical resistance,” said BigRep’s Chief Technology Officer Moshe Aknin.
In developing the innovative thermoplastic elastomer, which is a Shore 98 A on the Shore Hardness scale, BigRep analyzed how elastomers behave in its machines’ extruders and achieved the end result by adapting its material evaluation procedure accordingly.
BigRep advises that customers be experienced in handling extrusion of flexible materials, as they can be more challenging than most. BigRep will provide a guidance document to all PRO FLEX customers, and as part of the BigRep 360-degree service, customer service technicians are also on hand to assist where necessary.
