igliduri3000 allows 3D DLP printing of particularly durable wear parts in themillimetre range

With the iglidur i3000, igus is now presenting the world's first 3Dprinting resin specifically for DLP 3D printing of wearing parts. This enables the additive manufacturing of particularly small, precise components with aservice life that is 30 to 60 times longer than with conventional 3D printing resins. igus is also expanding its 3D printing service with DLP printers thatachieve a resolution of 0.035 millimetres.‍

For components in the millimetre range, 3D printers that use Digital Light Processing (DLP) are particularly suitable. The process achieves a very fine resolutions under the various 3D printing technologies. Resolutions of just –0.035 millimetres are possible, around half the thickness of a human hair. To enable this level of precision, a projector casts layer after layer of the 3Dmodel onto the surface of a special liquid resin. The corresponding regions network under the influence of light. After curing, the construction platform is lowered by one layer so that the next exposure can take place. This creates tiny components layer by layer – including gears with tips just 0.2 millimetres thick. This tips have extremely smooth surfaces that require no post-treatment. With the new iglidur i3000-PR 3D printing resin, users can benefit from igus tribo technology from igus with this 3D printing technology, therefore significantly increasing the service life of their moving applications.

Service life can be extended by a factor of 60

Because as precise as DLP 3D printing works, it has so far had a downside. “A common problem is that tiny components made of commercially available 3D printing resins, such as gears for model-making, are not particularly robust and fail quickly,” says Tom Krause, Head of Additive Manufacturing at igus. igus has therefore developed iglidur i3000 for DLP 3Dprinting. It is tribologically optimized and therefore is much more wear-resistant. “We were able to prove in laboratory tests that the service life of iglidur i3000 is at least 30 times longer than 10 tested commercially3D printing resins. In some applications, we even expect an increase in service life by a factor of 60.” Another advantage: The maintenance required for lubricating work is zero. Microscopic solid lubricants are integrated into the material. They are released independently during movement. ‍

Tiny special components produced quickly

In addition to the 3D printing resin itself, customers can order components made from it directly from igus. igus is also expanding its 3Dprinting service. While customers could previously choose between the 3Dprinting processes of selective laser sintering (SLS) and fused deposition modeling (FDM), in future they will also be able to have components manufactured with DLP 3D printers. The finest details and even internal channels can easily be achieved. “We are now entering the beta test phase with the first customers. At the same time, we are working on ensuring that DLP 3Dprinting is also available in the online tool, which customers can use to upload STEP files for their components or configure gears in just a few clicks,” says Krause, adding, “Thanks to the combination of3D printing and online configuration, weeks of waiting for wear-free special components are a thing of the past. In 2021, igus produced more than 200,000abrasion-resistant components using 3D printing in Cologne, no minimum order quantity, up to 10,000 units. Especially in times of bottlenecks and disrupted supply chains, 3D printing is a viable alternative.“

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ABOUT IGUS:

igus GmbH develops and produces motion plastics. These lubrication-free, high-performance polymers improve technology and reduce costs wherever things move. In energy supplies, highly flexible cables, plain and linear bearings as well as lead screw technology made of tribo-polymers, igus is the worldwide market leader. The family-run company based in Cologne, Germany, is represented in 35 countries and employs 4,900 people across the globe. In 2021, igus generated a turnover of €961 million. Research in the industry's largest test laboratories constantly yields innovations and more security for users. 234,000 articles are available from stock and the service life can be calculated online. In recent years, the company has expanded by creating internal startups, e.g. for ball bearings, robot drives, 3D printing, the RBTX platform for Lean Robotics and intelligent "smart plastics" for Industry 4.0. Among the most important environmental investments are the "chainge" programme –recycling of used e-chains - and the participation in an enterprise that produces oil from plastic waste.

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