Formulate 3D Printing Inks & Resins with Superior Mechanical Properties & Surface Quality

As the 3D printing industry continues to grow at a faster rate than ever, manufacturers are striving to create new, higher-quality printing materials that overcome problems with deformation, have superior surface quality, and provide better mechanical properties. Addressing these problems will allow 3D printing to be used not only for rapid prototyping but also for rapid manufacturing of final products.

Dymax Oligomers & Coatings offers a selection of six Bomar® oligomers ideal for formulating printing inks and resins for SLA, DLP, and 3D inkjet printers, with six of these oligomers highlighted below. The highlighted selection consists of oligomers with varying Tgs that allow for flexibility in mechanical properties. Formulators looking to eliminate object deformation can select an oligomer with a high Tg and low linear shrinkage. The oligomers also cover a large range of viscosities so formulators can achieve the flow characteristics they desire.

In addition to the mechanical properties these oligomers provide, they are non-yellowing for higher clarity and offer color stability for better looking objects. Formulations using Bomar® oligomers also gain high impact resistance, making them more durable against dropping and everyday wear. If one of our existing oligomers do not provide the desired properties for your application, Dymax O&C can work with you to develop a custom oligomer.

Oligomer Properties

The six Bomar® oligomers chosen for testing had varying degrees of flexibility, and were tested for potential 3D printing applications using a simple model formula of 45% oligomer, 51% monomer, and 4% photoinitiators. Most formulations were cured on a Dymax UVCS conveyor using two 5000-EC flood lamps outfitted with metal-halide bulbs. Curing was completed with an intensity of 300 mW/cm2 and 4,000 mJ/cm2 energy at a speed of 3 ft. per minute. The curing intensity was recorded using an ACCU-CAL™ 150 radiometer. A summary of the test results are shown below.

Equipment for Post Cure and Rework

After a 3D model is built, it may be necessary to supply additional curing energy to the part to ensure that optimized material properties are achieved. Several Dymax curing system configurations are ideally suited for post-cure process or rework.

UV Light-Curing Flood Lamp Systems

Ideal for Post Cure

Dymax flood-lamp systems are designed for area curing or for curing multiple assemblies at once. These flood lamp models use a powerful UV light-curing lamp (up to 225 mW/cm2) for fast curing over a 5″ x 5″ (12.7 cm x 12.7 cm) area. Typical systems are composed of three main components: a UV flood lamp, manual or automatic shutter, and a light shield.

BlueWave® 200 3.0 UV-Curing Spot Lamp System

Ideal for Rework or Repair (such as curing drain hole fills, bonding large assemblies, or repairing cracked or broken models)

The BlueWave® 200 3.0 is a high-intensity, light-curing spot lamp system that emits energy in the UVA and visible portion of the spectrum (300-450 nm) and is ideally suited for either manual or automated processes. The unit contains an integral shutter which can be actuated by a foot pedal or PLC and a universal power input that provides consistent performance at any voltage. Lightguides in a variety of configurations are available for use with this system, providing application flexibility.

Innovating Unique Oligomers for Over Twenty Years

Dymax Oligomers & Coatings is a leading innovator of advanced-performance materials for energy (UV/EB), light, and other free-radical cure applications. We couple our technical strength in acrylate and urethane chemistry with a strong emphasis on new product development. Our scientists synthesize a broad range of select specialty oligomers, custom-designed to satisfy the unique performance requirements of emerging application technologies, while providing customers an edge in formulating products with outstanding performance, reproducibility, and cost effectiveness. In addition to our line of Bomar® oligomers, we provide assistance in coatings formulation, custom blending, toll manufacturing, and contract manufactured coatings solutions.

In addition to our high-performance oligomers, Dymax offers a variety of light-curable adhesives and coatings as well as dispensing systems and light-curing equipment. Our products are perfectly matched to work seamlessly with each other, providing design engineers with tools to dramatically improve manufacturing efficiency and reduce costs. Dymax is committed to providing the best chemistry, curing equipment, and dispensing systems that offer customers complete manufacturing solutions for their challenging applications and enables them to gain an advantage over their competitors. Discuss in the Dymax forum at 3DPB.com.

Ahmet Nebioglu is the Sr. Director R&D Chemistry, Global, Dymax O&C