“3D PRINTUK is proud to bring another UK first by adding the first commercially available SAF H350 production system from Stratasys to its extensive 3D printer portfolio, significantly extending capacity and output of high quality 3D printed parts.”
We are delighted to announce that we have added a new polymer powder bed fusion (PBF) 3D printing process to our portfolio of industrial manufacturing systems, specifically SAF technology from Stratasys. This further expands our manufacturing capabilities and capacity of 3DPRINTUK, based in London, UK and adds to the suite of EOS Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) machines and HP MultiJet Fusion (MJF) machines that the company has been running for more than a decade.
Of particular note is that our SAF H350 system is the first commercially available machine of its kind available in the UK. SAF — or Selective Absorption Fusion — technology, like MJF, is based on the pioneering high speed sintering process developed by Professor Neil Hopkinson, who has been the VP of Additive Manufacturing (AM) Technology at Stratasys since November 2021. The focus for this production-grade AM process is the manufacture of higher volumes of accurate, consistent and repeatable parts. This exactly fits the remit of 3DPRINTUK.
Our CEO, Nick Allen, commented on the new addition: “We have built our reputation as a service provider of high-quality polymer 3D printed parts on demand over many years. This means that we have extensive expertise and experience in this area. When Stratasys introduced the SAF process, it was a new and interesting proposition that we could not ignore and the addition of the SAF H350 machine slots comfortably into our extensive portfolio. Incidentally, the SAF H350 system is the first one of its kind being used by a service provider in the UK, so we are looking forward to showing our clients what it is capable of. And, in the tradition of 3DPRINTUK, we have tested the system to the extreme over an 18 month period to ensure that the consistency and quality of parts meets the standards of 3DPRINTUK. Launching the machine as part of our service will significantly extend our output and capacity.”
The SAF H350 system has been specifically developed by Stratasys to produce highly efficient part volumes due to its high nesting density capabilities, which also lowers cost per part.
While these were important considerations in the addition of SAF to our portfolio, another key driver behind the purchase is that the SAF system allows us to add a new material to the polymer line-up, specifically Polyamide 11 (PA11). While the SAF platform can process a range of polymer materials, we will focus solely on PA11 with SAF. PA11 is a Nylon material, produced by the polymerization of 11-aminoundecanoic acid, making it a ‘bioplastic’ and more eco-friendly. PA11 is made from renewable resources that come from natural vegetable and castor oil source materials. This means it has a lower environmental impact from manufacturing the powder through to end of life of the products it makes. This is part of our long-term mission to develop a realistic and pragmatic sustainability plan.
However, other properties of PA11 make it ideal for us, and, more specifically, our clients. PA11 is stronger than P12 and less rigid (more elastic) with high impact resistance. It also exhibits superior thermal resistance, as well as being stable in light with good resistance to water and moisture.
Off the machine PA11 SAF parts look a lot like MJF parts but with slightly crisper details thanks to the latest High Definition (HD) print mode update from Stratasys. Although parts may be a little rougher in their natural state. The material is well suited to an array of applications such as automotive interior components, electrical enclosures, drone components long-term moving productions (hinges, for example), and part series; as well as mechanically loaded functional prototypes. Any parts produced using SAF can be finished with 3DPRINTUK’s extensive post-processing options.
We are offering PA11 parts via the SAF technology now, across our express, economy and trade services.
FREE SAF PA11 Sample part:
Would you like to try our new SAF PA11 ECO for free? We are so confident about the parts off the machine that we are offering a totally free SAF part worth up to £10 on every order for the next few months – this way you can test the material with your own designs risk free to see if it is suitable for your next project. We also have our own sample we can send with your next order if you would prefer.