Polycarbonate (PC) materials specifically designed for industrial 3D printers with a heated chamber
New materials bring strong mechanical and thermal properties to METHOD X 3D printer for a wide range of engineering applications
BROOKLYN, N.Y. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — September 17, 2020 — MakerBot, a global leader in 3D printing and subsidiary of Stratasys Ltd. (Nasdaq: SSYS), today announces that Polymaker, a leading provider of 3D printing materials, has qualified three polycarbonate materials for MakerBot LABS™ for the MakerBot METHOD X™ 3D printer.
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Polymaker PC materials now available for MakerBot LABS for METHOD (Photo: Business Wire)
Polymaker™ PC-PBT, PolyMax™ PC-FR, and PolyLite™ PC are available to print on the METHOD X 3D printer with the MakerBot LABS Experimental Extruder. This extruder turns METHOD into an open materials platform, enabling users to print with a wide variety of third-party materials on an industrial 3D printing platform. The latest material additions from Polymaker to the LABS portfolio aims to enable METHOD X users to harness the strong mechanical and thermal properties of polycarbonate (PC), while reducing problems such as warping and curling that typically occur when used with conventional desktop 3D printing machines.
Polycarbonate is a popular high-performance engineering material that possesses a unique balance of toughness, good light transmission, high heat resistance, and excellent electrical resistance. It is lightweight, has the ability to transmit light as effectively as glass, and withstand impacts better than other thermoplastics such as ABS. Due to these properties, PC materials are commonly used for functional prototyping and end-use parts in the production of automotive components, protective gear, medical device components, and exterior lighting fixtures.
However, polycarbonate can be challenging to print due to its ability to contract if it is cooled too quickly, which can cause warping and shrinkage of the printed part. Controlling the ambient temperature, such as with a heated chamber, is one of the most critical factors when printing polycarbonate.
The MakerBot METHOD X 3D printer is the only printer in its price class with a heated chamber that reaches up to 110°C, letting the parts cool down gradually to minimize curling and warping. METHOD controls how fast a part cools down during the printing process, allowing it to print polycarbonate and other advanced materials more successfully than typical desktop 3D printers that only have a heated build plate. In addition, with the moisture sensitivity of PC materials, Polymaker recommends using a material caddy, such as the Polymaker PolyBox™, to safeguard them from precipitation in the environment. MakerBot METHOD™ users can also use the Material Drying mode on the METHOD X to remove moisture from the materials.
"Polycarbonate is often the choice for parts that function in demanding applications. Its mechanical properties, flame retardance, and chemical resistance also allow engineers to push the boundaries of their 3D printed parts and experiment with new geometries,” said Xiaofan Luo, PhD, President of Polymaker. “Anyone who is serious about printing polycarbonate knows that a heated chamber is essential for printing large and strong complex parts. METHOD is bringing industrial capabilities to a desktop machine, and we think its users will really benefit from the material properties our PC range offers.”
“With its up to 110°C heated chamber, METHOD is a powerful and unique 3D printer platform for printing advanced engineering materials. The availability of Polymaker’s PC materials on METHOD offers allows engineers to print polycarbonate parts that they previously had to outsource to more expensive industrial 3D printers,” said Johan-Till Broer, VP of Product Development, MakerBot. “We are seeing increased interest in industrial materials as engineers advance from simple prototyping to 3D printing end-use parts. We are thrilled that Polymaker has qualified its industrial range of PC materials for MakerBot LABS.”
The addition of Polymaker polycarbonate materials brings the MakerBot LABS for METHOD portfolio of materials to nine and the total number of materials available on the METHOD platform to 19. The newly qualified polycarbonate materials from Polymaker include:
- Polymaker PC-PBT: This polymer blend combines the good chemical resistance of PBT (polybutylene terephthalate) with the strength and toughness of polycarbonate. Compared to PC resins and PC-ABS compounds, PC-PBT offers better resistance to chemicals, which enables printed applications where resistance to intermittent contact with fuels, oils, lubricants, or cleaners is necessary. It performs well under extreme circumstances, whether in contact with hydrocarbon-based chemicals or operating at subzero temperatures. Polymaker PC-PBT is a specialty material that maintains good toughness and natural ductile fracture behavior at low temperatures.
- PolyMax PC-FR: A flame retardant (FR) polycarbonate material, PolyMax PC-FR meets the UL-94 V0 standard, an important fire safety specification. The material displays excellent toughness, strength, and heat resistance, making it ideal for applications within the automotive, railway, and aerospace industries.
- PolyLite PC: PolyLite PC is produced using a polycarbonate resin specifically engineered for 3D printing. This material demonstrates a high modulus, making it ideal for applications that require good stiffness and light diffusion, such as outdoor light housings. PolyLite PC is available in transparent color, showing good optical clarity, rendering parts with an attractive crystal shine.
To further strengthen PC parts, Polymaker recommends annealing them right after the printing process to release the residual internal stress. The combination of METHOD’s heated chamber and annealing feature is designed to enable users to produce strong, manufacturing-grade parts.
Polymaker materials can be purchased on the Polymaker site.
The MakerBot LABS extruder enables users to print with a wide variety of third-party materials on METHOD as an open materials platform, expanding the possibilities of applications. MakerBot offers a wide range of industrial materials through MakerBot LABS, and is continuing to identify additional advanced materials for the platform. Partners in the MakerBot LABS Materials Development Program include BASF 3D Printing Solutions, Jabil, Kimya, LEHVOSS Group, Mitsubishi Chemical, and Polymaker.
For more information, visit www.makerbot.com/method.
About MakerBot
MakerBot, a subsidiary of Stratasys Ltd. (Nasdaq: SSYS), is a global leader in the 3D printing industry. The company helps create the innovators of today and the businesses and learning institutions of the future. Founded in 2009 in Brooklyn, NY, MakerBot strives to redefine the standards for 3D printing for reliability, accessibility, precision, and ease-of-use. Through this dedication, MakerBot has one of the largest install bases in the industry and also runs Thingiverse, the largest 3D printing community in the world.
We believe there's an innovator in everyone, so we make the 3D printing tools that make your ideas matter. Discover innovation with MakerBot 3D printing.
To learn more about MakerBot, visit makerbot.com, the MakerBot blog, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Facebook. Stratasys (parent company of MakerBot) reserves the right to utilize any of the foregoing social media platforms, including the company's websites, to share material, non-public information pursuant to the SEC's Regulation FD. To the extent necessary and mandated by applicable law, Stratasys will also include such information in its public disclosure filings.
MakerBot, MakerBot LABS, MakerBot METHOD, and MakerBot METHOD X are trademarks or registered marks of MakerBot Industries, LLC. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statement
The statements in this press release relating to Stratasys’ and/or MakerBot's beliefs regarding the benefits consumers will experience from using Polymaker polycarbonate materials, MakerBot LABS for METHOD materials, MakerBot LABS Experimental Extruder, and the METHOD platform are forward-looking statements reflecting management's current expectations and beliefs. These forward-looking statements are based on current information that is, by its nature, subject to rapid and even abrupt change. Due to risks and uncertainties associated with Stratasys' business, actual results could differ materially from those projected or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the degree of our success at introducing new or improved products and solutions that gain market share; the degree of growth of the 3D printing market generally; the duration of the global COVID-19 pandemic, which, if extensive, may continue to impact, in a material adverse manner, our operations, financial position and cash flows, and those of our customers and suppliers; the impact of potential shifts in the prices or margins of the products that we sell or services that we provide, including due to a shift towards lower-margin products or services; the impact of competition and new technologies; potential further charges against earnings that we could be required to take due to impairment of additional goodwill or other intangible assets; to the extent of our success at successfully consummating acquisitions or investments in new businesses, technologies, products or services; potential changes in our management and board of directors; global market, political and economic conditions, and in the countries in which we operate in particular (including risks related to the impact of coronavirus on our operations, supply chain, liquidity, cash flow and customer orders; costs and potential liability relating to litigation and regulatory proceedings; risks related to infringement of our intellectual property rights by others or infringement of others' intellectual property rights by us; the extent of our success at maintaining our liquidity and financing our operations and capital needs; the impact of tax regulations on our results of operations and financial condition; and other risk factors set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in Stratasys’ most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on February 26th, 2020. Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made throughout our 2019 Annual Report and the Report of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K that attaches Stratasys’ unaudited, condensed consolidated financial statements and its review of its results of operations and financial condition, for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2020, which we furnished to the SEC on May 14, 2020, and our other reports filed with or furnished to the SEC, which are designed to advise interested parties of the risks and factors that may affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. Any guidance provided, and other forward-looking statements made, in this press release are made as of the date hereof, and Stratasys and MakerBot undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
