Objet Ltd., an innovation leader in 3D printing for rapid prototyping and additive manufacturing announced the commercial availability of a high temperature material (RGD525), available for use on Objet Connex500 and Eden500V 3D printers. This material simulates the thermal performance of engineering plastics and is dimensionally stable when used for static 3D models and prototypes. Objet plans to make the material available on additional platforms during 2012.

The material has a heat deflection temperature (HDT at 0.45MPa) of 65° C (149° F) out of the printer and 80° C (176° F) after a short oven-based, post-thermal treatment.

According to Zehavit Reisin, Head of Consumables Line of Business for Objet, “We are very excited to release the latest addition to our growing range of materials for simulating engineering plastics. The High Temperature Material allows customers to perform genuine thermal functional testing of 3D printed parts and prototypes. The models created in this material are more resilient in diverse environmental conditions, whether in transit or under strong exhibition lighting.”

The material’s temperature resistance suits applications that require thermal testing of static parts such as hot air flow or hot water flow in taps and faucets. When jetted off the Objet Connex multi-material 3D printer, the material can be simultaneously printed with Objet’s Tango family of rubber-like materials to simulate over-molded parts such as air-flow vents used in automotive, defense and household appliances.

In addition to its thermal properties, the material delivers exceptionally smooth surfaces, suitable for post-processing applications such as gluing, painting, metal coating, vacuum metalizing and master models for silicon molding.

RGD525 follows Objet’s launch of Bio-Compatible material (MED610) in September and transparent VeroClear, VeroWhitePlus and ABS-like Digital Material in April 2011.

With these new additions, the number of Objet 3D printing materials is brought to a total of 68, including 51 composite materials (Digital Materials), enabling a wide range of rapid prototyping usages, from realistic product visualization to advanced functional testing.

Objet Ltd.
www.objet.com