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Rapid prototypes use third generation resins

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Apr 21, 2003

AME Product Development Solutions has created the first rapid prototypes using new third generation resins on its Viper stereolithography (SLA) machines.

AME Product Development Solutions has firmly established itself as a world leader by creating the first rapid prototypes using new third generation resins on its Viper stereolithography (SLA) machines.

Destined for the medical device and automotive industry, the techniques developed by AME are being closely supported by the resin manufacturer, American company DSM Somos.

Although the new resins are in use on standard resolution SLA machines, AME is one of the only companies in the world using Somos' new WaterShed SLA resin on the high resolution Viper machine.

With its transparent build and ABS properties, AME believes it is the ideal material for producing bottles, lenses, or anything where transparency is a key element in the product design.

Extended testing with liquids is made possible by WaterShed's non-hydroscopic properties and this benefit is expected to be a major part of AME's sales with new clients.

Ian Johannessen, Director at AME says, "We've worked hard with the manufacturers to make this project a reality.

To be the first company in the world to have achieved this is fantastic and we're confident that our customers will be appreciative of all the benefits this will bring".

Michael Pattison from Methode Electronics, a regular user of AME prototype services, said: "This material will allow us to do things with resins that were never previously possible consequently our timescales and risks associated with NPD will move more quickly in the right direction".

Parts created with WaterShed have a light green tinge, similar in colour to plate glass and have many properties that mimic traditional engineering plastics including ABS and PBT.

This makes it ideal for many applications in the automotive, medical and consumer electronics markets.

AME has also made two other new third-generation resins available for use on its Viper machines Raven 7620 Photopolymer - a new flexible SLA resin with similar properties to polypropylene.

DSM Somos 9120 is a liquid photopolymer that produces robust, functional and accurate parts.

It offers superior chemical resistance, a wide processing latitude and excellent tolerance to a broad temperature and humidity range during and after build.

Parts created from Somos 9120 exhibit superior fatigue properties, strong memory retention and high quality up-facing and down-facing surfaces.

AME Product Development Solutions has been at the forefront of pushing rapid prototyping technologies forwards to give clients better and more "production-like" prototypes.

AME has added three new-generation resins, each of which has been created to help clients create better prototypes and speed product development activities - the latest third generation resins mean that prototype parts can be created to appear and behave just like finished products make testing easier, quicker and more valuable, and are equally ideal for limited run manufacture.

They are all available in Standard (0.1mm layers) SLA and high-resolution SLA (0.05mm) to create detailed precision parts, quickly and cost effectively using the Stereolithography process.