The materials presented today include Antero 840CN03 for the Stratasys Fortus F900 3D printer and Diran 410MF07 and ABS-ESD7 for the Stratasys F370 3D printer. These thermoplastics are well suited to the requirements of manufacturing applications in the automotive and aerospace industries, for example. They are also suitable for the development of modern 3D-printed aids, devices, tools, prototypes and production components.

Antero 840CN03 was developed for the F900 3D printer. It is the second PEKK polymer in the Stratasys portfolio. It is based on the high-performance polymer Antero - and uses the Kepstan PEKK technology from Arkema, a strategic partner of Stratasys. The composition of the new Antero material is designed to produce highly specific tools and components with uniform electrostatic discharge (ESD) and is ideal for printing extremely heat- and wear-resistant and chemically resistant components with extremely low outgassing.

The new Antero material with ESD properties can be used to produce stable yet lightweight parts for frames, cladding and components. This makes it suitable for applications in the aerospace sector and for industrial applications. Stratasys Direct Manufacturing, the company's contract manufacturing division, is also including the material in its comprehensive range of materials.

"The manufacture of spacecraft places high demands on the development of components with suitable characteristics," explains Brian Kaplun, Senior Manager for Advanced Manufacturing at Lockheed Martin Space. "The challenges include, among other physical and mechanical features, suitable electrostatic dissipation. Antero's outgassing and electrostatic dissipation properties meet our requirements for a strong yet lightweight material for additive manufacturing."

Diran is a nylon-based material developed by Stratasys for highly durable tooling applications for the Stratasys F370. The new FDM thermoplastic offers manufacturers an extremely strong material with low friction - as well as resistance to hydrocarbon-based chemicals and a smooth surface with low sliding resistance. Diran is strong enough to withstand the often rough handling of tools during manufacturing.

ABS-ESD7 thermoplastic, previously only available for the Stratasys Fortus 3D printers, has been developed for electrostatic sensitive applications to prevent discharge or attracting other materials such as powder, dust or small particles. By expanding the production materials for the Stratasys F370, users can utilize it in prototyping and manufacturing requirements for low-cost and highly flexible parts. ABS-ESD7 is a cost-effective, ESD-safe material for a user-friendly platform that creates reproducible and accurate parts, making it ideal for manufacturing tooling.

"3D printing is being used more and more in production environments. However, engineers and designers struggle with thermoplastics that don't meet the extreme requirements of manufacturing-based applications," says Adam Pawlowski, Vice President of Manufacturing Solutions at Stratasys. "Our thermoplastics can overcome these obstacles and ensure that 3D printing is increasingly used in manufacturing processes. Users can develop and design faster and reduce the costs often associated with traditional approaches."