polySpectra,, a manufacturer of tough photopolymer resins, is launching its latest cyclic olefin resin (COR) material on Kickstarter: COR Zero. COR Zero is intended to be a manufacturing-grade resin material for 3D printing that can be printed and processed in a home workshop using inexpensive equipment.
This new material is intended to be processed with only three pieces of equipment: a freezer for storage, a microwave for post-curing, and a resin 3D printer for printing.
COR Zero – Manufacturing-grade Resin Material
COR Zero combines exceptional durability, high working temperature, and chemical resistance, making it ideal for end-of-line manufacturing. COR Zero enables makers to become manufacturers by providing them with the durability, reproducibility, and dependability required for end-use additive manufacturing.
“It took us more than a decade to develop a COR formulation that was safe enough and inexpensive enough for individuals to use in their own workshop. We’re partnering with Kickstarter specifically because the kind of person who would be most empowered by COR Zero is the kind of person who would launch a Kickstarter for their innovative physical product idea.”
– polySpectra Founder and CEO Raymond Weitekamp
COR Zero marks polySpectra’s entry into the consumer market. Intended to enable designers and engineers to skip injection moulding, COR Zero aims to lower the cost innovation in a number of key application areas, including end-use manufacturing for:
- Mechanical components such as gears and impellers
- Fluidic components such as valves and manifolds
- Enclosures and housings for electronics and consumer products
- Wearables, such as glasses frames and podiatry inserts
While resin-based 3D printed parts can be brittle or have poor thermal stability, COR materials are designed to be compatible with both industrial and desktop DLP/LCD 3D printers, and polySpectra claims that they bring additive parts closer to true production quality.
The company stated that it will continue to refine the formulation for COR Zero before shipping, but it provided the following representative properties:
Tensile Properties | Impact Strength | Thermal Properties |
Average UTS: 53 MPa Average Modulus: 2175 MPa Average EAB: 18% | Average Notched IZOD 27 J/m Average Un-Notched IZOD 400 J/m | Glass transition temperature (Tg) between 125 °C (E” max) and 145 °C (tan delta) |
Weitekamp added, saying “The chemistry behind COR Zero has been in development for many years, with direct input and validation from Fortune 500 customers, leading aerospace firms and the US Department of Energy. We are tremendously excited to bring this powerful technology to the general public, which we hope will accelerate innovation in hardware and durable goods.”
Who is it for?
- Makers and hobbyists looking to improve their projects with manufacturing-grade materials.
- Engineers and designers looking for functional prototypes and end-use components.
- Small businesses and Startups looking to manufacture products without incurring significant upfront costs.
Funding Goals
polySpectra is aiming to raise $10,000 with a stretch goal of $20,000 to bring COR Zero to life. The funds will be used to buy raw materials in bulk to save money, manufacture COR Zero in our California facilities, and bring COR Zero to market at an affordable price for backers. The stretch goal will allow polySpectra to create a black version of COR Zero (the initial goal only proposed a natural Amber colour).
The Kickstarter campaign ends on November 7, 2024 at 11:59 EST, and anyone interested can go to the campaign page and make an informed decision whether or not to back the project.
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