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Plastic 3D printing

Thermoplastic polymers or plastics can be melted and solidified repeatedly while retaining their intrinsic properties. This is the characteristic utilized by the 3D printing technology known as Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM). Plastic 3D printers using FDM melt a filament of a thermoplastic polymer to deposit it onto a previously deposited solid layer, so that the heat from the melted material re-melts the solidified layer to adhere both layers and form a single printed piece. This layer-to-layer adhesion is also promoted by the pressure exerted by the molten material exiting the 3D printer onto the solid layer.

Why choose 3D Printing with Plastic?

The wide range of filaments available for professional plastic printers means that this technology can be applied to almost any sector. At Addimen we are able to print standard plastics or commodities and high-performance technical plastics. In the case of more advanced plastics such as PEEK or PEI, their complex processing means that we have to individually analyse each part to determine if they can be manufactured.

Typical uses of additive manufacturing of plastic components

Plastic items produced in printers can be used as a quick and cost-efficient prototype, or for the verifications of moulds and designs. However, the large-scale professional printer available at Addimen permits the manufacturing of fully functional engineering plastic parts for a variety of uses such as electronic apparatus casings, mounting and assembly tools, lightened robotic arms, etc.

para aplicaciones variadas como carcasas de aparatos electrónicos, útiles de montaje y ensamblado, garras de robots aligeradas, etc

Typical uses of additive manufacturing of plastic components

Post processing after plastic printing

The most common post processes are: the removal of supports (they may be dissolved), smoothing, surface blasting, bonding, polishing, and painting.

Benefits of 3D printing with plastic

1 PERSONALISATION

With 3D printing, any product can be personalised and adapted to changing market conditions, without any extra cost.

2 STOCK REDUCTION

Thanks to digitalisation and additive manufacturing, spares can be supplied on demand as our delivery time is minimal.

3 REVERSE ENGINEERING

By using a 3D scanner, we can obtain the plans of a discontinued part, which has no available designs, and then print it in metal or plastic.

4 SAVE ON MATERIAL, WASTE, AND ENERGY

The basic definition of 3D printing is to methodically add material until an item is created. The consolidation of parts for the production process also saves energy and material costs.

Plastic 3D printing

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