SL composite passes beta tests

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Nov 18, 2004

After nearly a year of successful, comprehensive beta testing by a variety of industries and stereolithography service bureaus worldwide, NanoForm 15120 is now available commercially.

DSM Somos has announced the full commercialisation of NanoForm 15120 after nearly a year of successful, comprehensive beta testing by a variety of industries and stereolithography (SL) service bureaus worldwide.

NanoForm 15120 is a composite stereolithography material which incorporates noncrystalline nanoparticle technology for enhanced performance properties, including exceptionally high stiffness and heat resistance.

Heat deflection temperatures of more than 265C have been reported.

"The composite technology of NanoForm contributes to exceptional dimensional stability, low shrink, and low coefficient of thermal linear expansion", says DSM Somos Application Development and Technical Service Manager Matt Cantwell.

"This material offers a unique alternative to previous stereolithography and selective laser sintering solutions available on the market".

"It is processed in an identical manner to unreinforced liquid SL resins, requiring no mixing or other special handling".

NanoForm was first introduced at the Frankfurt Euromold fair in December 2003.

"Since that time, numerous companies have been successfully implementing it into their material offerings for medical, automotive and aerospace applications", states DSM Somos Marketing and Sales Manager Ty Bacon.

Marc Lesko, Rapid Prototyping Product Designer for ConvaTec (leader in ostomy and wound care products) says: "I've successfully used the NanoForm resin to produce vacuum form molds and lab test fixtures".

"Its high temperature and hardness properties make it very useful for rapid prototyping and this resin has helped to speed the development process".

VG Kunstofftechnik, one of the three European beta-test sites, tested NanoForm over a period of several months, providing customers in the automotive, electronics, medical-technology and bathroom-fittings sectors with a series of complex parts.

Dr Volker Griessbach, Managing-Director of VG Kunstofftechnik, declared: "Working with a 3D Systems Viper SL machine, we were able to build extremely precise and detailed parts in NanoForm, and our customers were impressed with both the accuracy and temperature resistance obtained".

"We have successfully worked with NanoForm at temperatures up to 120C, and the parts demonstrate overall characteristics which set them apart from other stereolithography material solutions".

"In particular, characteristics such as extremely low levels of moisture absorption and exceptional surface finish/quality - with practically no 'stair stepping' effects - generated extremely positive feedback".

"We believe this material has good potential for free-form manufacturing in industries such as the electronics sector, where small-series of up to 500 pieces via free-form manufacturing is no longer an exception".

"With new materials such as NanoForm, stereolithography is set to move from rapid prototyping to rapid manufacturing".