SKZ expands 3D printing capacities for high-performance plastics and precise resin components

The SKZ Plastics Center has systematically expanded its infrastructure in the field of additive manufacturing. By integrating new systems for processing high-performance thermoplastic materials and light-curing resins, the institute is responding to increasing industrial requirements. The expansion affects both research and contract manufacturing and is intended to support the development of functional components with increased demands on material properties and manufacturing accuracy.

One focus is on the processing of high-performance thermoplastics using fused layer modeling. The newly procured Apium P400 enables the use of materials such as PEEK, PPSU and PEI, which are characterized by thermal and chemical resistance as well as mechanical resilience. A second print head allows both support structures and multi-component parts to be produced. This range is complemented by pellet extruders, which allow direct processing of plastic pellets. This technology not only reduces material costs, but also expands the range of materials that can be processed – especially those that are not available as filament.

“We are thus creating the conditions to be able to respond even more specifically to complex customer requirements,” says Adrian Beetz, Group Manager Research Additive Manufacturing at SKZ. “By expanding our production capacities with these new systems, we can offer our customers an even wider range of materials and processing options. This is an important step towards meeting the constantly growing requirements in the field of high-performance plastics and additive manufacturing. From simple contract manufacturing of components to more complex projects, we offer our customers the right support.”

The WLS3232 from Weirather will be used for selective laser sintering in the future. The machine offers a heatable installation space up to 250 °C, which means that even demanding materials such as PA 6.6 or PBT can be processed. The large installation space and interchangeable process units enable continuous production. An integrated thermal imaging camera supports process monitoring in real time.

For applications with high demands on detail accuracy and surface quality, the Pi200 DLP system from Uniontech complements the system portfolio. This is suitable both for end components and for toolmaking, for example in the production of inserts for injection molding. A variety of resin types can be processed thanks to flexible parameterization.