Covestro is extending its collaboration with printer manufacturer Stratasys by adding new validated filaments to the materials ecosystem for fused deposition modeling (FDM) technology, starting with the Addigy PA6/66-GF20 FR LS filament based on glass fiber–reinforced polyamide.
FDM is the third 3D-printing technology on which both companies are collaborating, as Covestro Somos resins are already available for the Stratasys Neo stereolithography and Origin One P3 (Programmable PhotoPolymerization) systems, providing production-ready "material+printer" solutions that meet manufacturing requirements.
Addigy PA6/66-GF20 FR LS filament is the first Covestro filament in Stratasys’ new FDM open material ecosystem, which was announced at the Formnext trade fair last November. The flame-resistant, low-smoke filament is one of few commercial filaments that meet norms EN 45545-2, NFPA 130 (ASTM E162, ASTM E662), SMP 800-C, and FAR 25.853. Its certification for flame, smoke and toxicity (FST) make it suitable for railway and other transportation applications.
As 3D printing moves to the factory floor, manufacturers need access to functional materials that bring the right properties to their applications and meet specifications. Open ecosystems bring material and printer companies together to optimize the printing process and bring manufacturers ease of mind as they accelerate the use of additive manufacturing in production environments. They also provide dual materials sourcing for mitigating risk.
"Manufacturers have already been benefitting from our collaboration with Stratasys on the Neo and Origin P3T platforms," said Covestro’s Hugo da Silva, Vice President, Additive Manufacturing. "By adding Covestro filaments to the Stratasys FDM material ecosystem, they gain access to material innovation to address many more applications."
