DSM brings additive manufacturing one step closer to industrial production with new carbon-fiber filament

DSM has debuted its new carbon-fiber-filled polyamide (PA) 6/66 filament grade, Novamid ID1030 CF10, for 3D printing. Despite the low carbon-fiber loading of 10%, it can be used to fabricate functional prototyping and industrial parts with properties close to what is usually achievable only by injection molding while matching the easy and fast printing of unreinforced plastics. Novamid ID1030 CF10 3D is designed for printing structural parts that are clearly stronger, stiffer and tougher with higher tensile strength and modulus, high dimensional stability and no warpage.

These excellent mechanical properties and smooth appearance make it ideal for a broad range of applications that require robust performance possibly at elevated temperatures such as automotive under-the-hood; protective and supporting sports gear; manufacturing jigs and fixtures; medical braces and prosthetics. It’s also a go-to-material for lightweight applications across various vertical markets.

The material can be printed on standard desktop fused filament fabrication (FFF) machines with a hardened nozzle. Tests have shown that users can run their printers at the same speeds as with unreinforced plastics, while achieving considerably better strength and toughness.

“FFF technology is growing rapidly, for use in both prototyping and industrial applications,” said Hugo da Silva, Vice president of Additive Manufacturing (AM) at DSM. “With high-performance materials like our new carbon fiber filament, manufacturers can take it into many more applications like functional prototyping as well as durable and structural industrial parts for harsh environments.”

Novamid ID 1030 CF10 has been tested on several open FFF platforms, including on GermanRepRap and the new Ultimaker S5.

Novamid ID1030 CF10 is available in 1.75- and 2.85-mm sizes, on environmentally friendly cardboard spools for easier recycling, at DSM AM distributors, including from DSM AM distributors FormFutura, MCPP, and Nexeo3DSolutions  DSM recently revealed Dutch firm FormFutura as its latest distributor of AM filaments.