Stratasys (Nasdaq:SSYS), a global leader in applied additive technology solutions, introduced a new additive manufacturing material for its FDM process, a PEKK-based high-performance thermoplastic, called Antero 800NA.

A PEKK material for FDM additive manufacturing offers significant advantages for many manufacturers, including lighter-weight parts, reduced inventories, and improved profitability.

Antero 800NA delivers superior chemical resistance, ultra-low outgassing, resistance to high temperatures, and strong wear properties.

Aerospace and other high-performance vehicle makers wishing to move to an additive manufacturing process will be among the most interested in Antero 800NA.

The material’s superior chemical resistance means it can be used for components exposed to hydrocarbons, such as fuels and lubricants, as well as many acids. Additionally, its low outgassing allows it to be used in confined spaces and sensitive environments, such as satellites, where materials may not outgas under vacuum. Antero 800NA’s high operating temperature is designed to allow it to be used for applications under the hood or in engine compartments.

Custom or low-volume additive manufacturing with Antero 800NA has economic advantages over traditional machining processes. With traditional processes, manufacturers buy bulk PEKK (available only in limited shapes and sizes) and machine it to a net shape, which wastes a considerable amount of expensive material and has a longer leadtime. With an additive process, the workflow is faster, yielding lighter-weight parts with optimized topology and reduced waist.

Another important advantage with the additive process is it allows manufacturers to produce PEKK parts on-demand and eliminate inventory that might sit on a shelf for years before being needed. The reduction in inventory costs means increased profitability.

Besides space, aerospace and automotive, target industries include high-end industrial manufacturing, as well as oil-and-gas applications.

Antero 800NA parts created with the FDM process are durable and dimensionally stable, even when building large parts. They are also cost-effective to produce, even at low quantities.

Antero 800NA’s advantages include:

• Better elongation in the X and Z axis, resulting in tougher parts
• Consistent mechanical properties
• Low-volume cost advantages
• Large-part dimensional stability
• FDM technology advantages, including ease-of-use and design freedom

Antero 800NA is the first commercial product in a planned new family of PEKK-based materials. The material will be offered with an initial layer thickness of 0.010 in. (0.25 mm) and additional layer-thickness options planned for future release.

Antero 800NA is expected to be available for use on Stratasys’ Fortus 450mc Production 3D Printer in Q2, 2018, and for the Fortus 900mc Production 3D Printer in Q4, 2018. Existing Fortus 450mc users with the high-performance material bundle will be able to use Antero 800NA without additional license fees. Fortus 450mc users without the high-performance materials bundle can purchase the high-performance material bundle or an individual material license. Fortus 450mc systems will require the Nylon 12CF hardware upgrade along with a new tip and purge ledge to operate the Antero 800NA material.

Stratasys Ltd
www.stratasys.com