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New resin for optically clear prototypes

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Aug 7, 2001

Somos 10120 WaterClear is a new stereolithography resin mimicking the flexural strength and modulus of polycarbonate, the notched izod impact strength of Nylon 66, and the tensile strength of ABS

DSM Somos has announced the availability of Somos 10120 WaterClear, a new stereolithography resin providing the optical clarity of many polycarbonates.

Designed to work with solid-state laser stereolithography equipment, the resin was beta tested on a wide variation of machinery, including 3D Systems' SLA-7000 and the new Viper si2 System.

Somos 10120 WaterClear is a unique new material composite of many desirable engineering properties mimicking the flexural strength and modulus of polycarbonate, the notched izod impact strength of Nylon 66, and the tensile strength of ABS.

Its transparent appearance may be treated in a secondary step for the addition of color.

According to Dan Mickish, Ph.D, R and D Manager, DSM Somos: "Somos 10120 WaterClear was developed in less than one year as a direct response to demands in the market place for this type of next- generation, high-performance SL resin.

Focus groups, including both end-users, industrial designers and service bureaus, repeatedly asked for a general purpose material that would combine high clarity, low color, toughness and rigidity." Michelle Wyatt, DSM Somos Account Manager, further notes that the high level of enthusiasm from beta test sites coupled with avid industry interest indicates that Somos R and D has developed a product that meets urgent market needs.

Wyatt states: "Service bureaus and their customers have responded with uniformly positive feedback to Somos 10120 WaterClear(tm) and its diverse application potential for building see-through models for the purpose of evaluating product assemblies.

This is ideal for engine components, powertools, light pipes, bottles, lenses, and any application where it is essential to visualize flow of liquids or gasses." In addition to delivering optical-clarity, Somos 10120 WaterClear(tm) prototypes ensure exceptional durability, toughness, and impact strength.

Users have reported that this unique new material resolves challenges encountered with other available grades of stereolithography resin that are too soft or too brittle for many functions, including the incorporation into design models of screws or press fit bearings.

Stereolithography is a layer additive rapid-prototyping process based on the use of photopolymer liquid resins which solidify when exposed to UV light.

A software program transfers the designer's 3-D CAD model into an electronic file ('STL' format) for stereolithography machines, composing the information into thin cross sections or layers.

A laser beam then traces each layer onto the surface of a vat of photopolymer resin, building the part in repeated layers until a solid replica of the original CAD model is completed.

DSM Somos ProtoFunctional resins range from the industry's first flexible resins for material properties similar to polyethylene (Somos 8100 series) or polypropylene (Somos 9100 series) to the latest generation of heat-resistant, humidity- tolerant, high-accuracy epoxy resins suitable for investment casting and direct tooling applications (Somos 7100 series).

Each family of Somos photopolymer epoxy resins is comprised of materials singularly formulated and optimised for the variety of stereolithography platforms commercially available: Somos XX'00' resins are for use in Argon ion laser systems; Somos XX'10' for Helio Cadmium laser systems; Somos XX'20' resins for platforms utilising Solid State laser systems.

DSM Somos also offers materials for selective laser sintering and is the first manufacturer of powder elastomeric polymer (Somos 201) that can be sintered to produce highly flexible parts with "rubber like" characteristics.