User:Taulman

Development of 618 Nylon Co-Polymer for use in all RepRap type/style 3D Printers

Milestones:

Development Start Date: 3/12/2012

Purpose: To develop a very high strength, 100% bonding material capable of being used in all RepRap style printers. As there are now several 3D Design and prototype houses to support the ever growing high technology firms, the ability to make quick turn prototypes is a must for the successful design firm. While the RepRap style printers may be years away from the surface aesthetics of the larger and more expensive proprietary 3D Printers, most of these 3D print technologies have difficulty in the “function” portion of “Form/Fit/Function” demands of the industry. All of those in these design firms fear the one question asked by a new Customer, i.e. “So…can I put this 3D Printed part in my newly designed lawn mower transmission and power it up?” Until now, the answer has always been “no” or one filled with conditions. The goal of this development was to allow these design houses the ability to say…”Absolutely….not only that, but you can run it as hot as 120F and immerse it in any transmission oils you want!”. This raises the bar significantly for all users of RepRap style 3D Printers.

Top Tier Requirements:

1. > than 98% bonding thread to thread. a. This must be a measurable capability with written calibration acceptance testing for tractability.

2. Printing temperature range to be within the delta of current and older model RepRap style printers. i.e. 200C to 260C

3. Non Scratch surface. a. The material must be of a consistency and polymer make up such that no material “dust” would be emitted during mechanical processing. b. The material must “cut” rather than “scratch”.

4. Strength. a. The material should hold up to extreme abuse to the point of “tearing” rather than splitting or delaminating.

5. Chemical resistance. a. The material must be able to sustain bonding when exposed to the widest pH range possible.

6. As Slippery (Highly durable) surface as possible.

7. Temperature Stability. a. The material should maintain stability (limited deformation) of a defined temperature range.

8. Surface texture. a. No requirement other than noted in #6

9. Optical Properties. a. No requirement

10. Conductivity Properties a. No requirement

11. Antistatic Properties a. No requirement

12. Color Properties a. Must not affect any other property b. No requirement