MakerBot, a global 3D printing and subsidiary of Stratasys (Nasdaq: SSYS), has expanded its METHOD materials portfolio with PC-ABS and PC-ABS FR.
PC-ABS (polycarbonate-acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) has high heat resistant properties and high tensile strength, which make it optimal for use across automotive, rail, and electronics industries.
PC-ABS FR is a flame-retardant material that meets the UL-94 V0 standard, an important fire safety specification.
The addition of polycarbonate to ABS delivers higher impact strength and heat resistance than the standard ABS material, and is used frequently in injection moulding.
PC-ABS prints more successfully with an enclosed heated chamber as parts printed on a desktop 3D printer with only a heated build plate are susceptible to temperature variations that can cause part deformation and lower part strength.
MakerBot increased METHOD X’s maximum enclosed chamber temperature at the build plane from 100°C to up to 110°C to ensure superior part accuracy and interlayer adhesion.
“With its excellent thermal and mechanical properties, PC-ABS is a widely-used engineering material for applications that require high impact and heat resistance. METHOD X is the only printer in its price class with a heated chamber that reaches up to 110°C on the build plane, making it ideal for printing PC-ABS,” said Johan-Till Broer, VP of Product Development, MakerBot.
“PC-ABS is another example of METHOD’s ability to support real engineering-grade materials that print more successfully with a heated chamber. As a result, this improves the success rate and efficiency of the prototyping process, reducing time to market for new products.”
PC-ABS and PC-ABS FR are expected to ship beginning in May 2020, and will be available in black.
