OMNI3D expands its range of materials. From January 2018, the offer includes a filament with added carbon fiber (CF-PA-12) – a high-strength material recommended due to low shrinkage and stiffness.
Krzysztof Kardach, Principal 3D Printing Technologist, responsible in OMNI3D for testing and introducing filaments, talks about the new material: “CF-PA-12 is a polyamide 12 (PA 12) based composite, reinforced with carbon fibers. It has exceptional durability as well as high stiffness and tensile strength. The last feature is especially worth noting, because carbon fiber has over 2.5 times more strength than the popular ABS-42.”
However, carbon fiber has even more desirable properties.
“The low material shrinkage and high thermal resistance mean that tools made of carbon fiber work successfully up to 160°C. Again, ABS resistance can be rated as two times lower because prints from this material can be used up to about 87°C. Carbon fiber also has high chemical resistance. CF-PA-12 retains the structural stiffness of the carbon fiber regardless of the ambient humidity. It is lightweight, with an elegant, semi-matte finish.”
“Carbon fiber is used in the production of parts for cars and drones, components that have high durability and low weight. This material will work in a demanding environment, and in some cases it can replace elements previously made from metal. It is excellent in component engineering, for producing final components and functional prototypes and testing structural elements or devices and instrumentation,” he adds.
OMNI3D is planning to release further materials for specialist applications in the coming months. The manufacturer’s flagship 3D printer, Factory 2.0, has automatic print settings that specify parameters for all compatible filaments.
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