Objet, a leader in 3D printing systems, announced a new 3D material that they have developed, which will make thermal testing possible. The new material, called RGD525, has been designed to simulate high temperature performance for engineering plastics, without compromising the stability of the product.
According to Zehavit Reisin of Objet, “In function applications, Objet’s strategy has been first to enhance our capabilities in the rapid prototyping side. Correct fit and form are required for making models. But we’ve also wanted to get into function applications by introducing new materials that approach engineering plastics. These materials must possess both high temperature resistance and high toughness. In functional product design testing, the prototypes must function like the final product, as well as look and feel like it.”
The deflection temperature for RGD525 is between 145 and 153 degrees Fahrenheit and then once the material has been treated, this goes up to between 167 and 176 degrees Fahrenheit. RGD525, according to Reisin, will allow companies to test new materials effectively through simulation, rather than just by creating replicas.
RGD525 can be used with the company’s printer models Connex500 and Eden500V 3D with additional platforms scheduled to be added later in 2012. In addition, the company states that RGD525 can be printed at the same time as Objet Tango line, allowing for the simulation of overmoulded parts that are commonly used in automotive and defense applications.
This isn’t the only new material that Objet debuted this year. Earlier, they announced the development of a material called RGD5160-DM. This material is designed for use in cellphones, engine parts and electrical casings and is unique for its durability as well as its heat resistance. The company recently debuted this material with a new prototype for a dashboard for the European company StreetScooter. The entire dashboard contained more than 20 3D printed parts.