OMNI3D and Kwambio Introduce New Specialized 3D Printing Materials

Polish company OMNI3D is known for its giant 3D printer, the Factory 2.0, which became available for purchase about a year and a half ago. What’s less talked-about, though, is that the company also has a respectable range of industrial-grade filaments. Now OMNI3D has added a new material, CF-PA-12, which boasts high durability and strength thanks to its carbon fiber content.

CF-PA-12 is a polyamide 12-based composite with a high level of stiffness as well as toughness. Carbon fiber has 2.5 times the strength of ABS, so it’s an exceptionally strong material. Thanks to its low material shrinkage and high thermal resistance, tools made from carbon fiber can be used at temperatures up to 160°C – about double that of ABS. The material also has a high chemical resistance.

Krzysztof Kardach

“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,” said Krzysztof Kardach, Principal 3D Printing Technologist at OMNI3D. “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.”

CF-PA-12 won’t be the last filament OMNI3D releases in the near future; the company is planning to introduce additional materials for specialist applications in the coming months. The Factory 2.0 has automatic print settings that specify parameters for all compatible filaments.

Also introducing a new material is Kwambio, which got its start as a 3D model platform and moved into 3D printer manufacturing, most recently introducing a ceramic 3D printer at CES 2018. The company has just launched a new opaque glass-based 3D printing material called GS ONE. The material has a rough, sandy texture and comes in 12 colors, with additional colors to be offered soon. It’s ideal, says Kwambio, for intricate objects that can’t be produced by normal ceramic processes, and, if used without glazed, offers a high level of detail.

GS ONE has zero shrinkage, so it’s ideal for objects where exact dimensions are critical. It’s not food safe, unlike Kwambio’s standard ceramic material, so the company recommends using it for home decor items.

“The turnover for objects 3D printed in this material is 5 days or even less, because there’s no need for firing and glazing,” stated Kwambio. “Instead, objects have to be painted. Spray paint actually protects objects, they become even more durable.”

Hand-polished objects can be used for slip casting, to make molds. Objects 3D printed in GS ONE are not waterproof by default, but Kwambio can add a special waterproof coating if desired. Though the material can be damaged by water, it’s still more durable than regular ceramic material. Kwambio charges $20 per 3D printed object in the material or $0.17 per 1 cm² of object’s surface area.

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