Stratasys Ltd. will launch its innovative polypropylene material for SAF technology usable on the Stratasys H350™ printer. The material will be available in the fourth quarter of 2024 and will be exhibited at the Stratasys booth at the upcoming RAPID + TCT Expo in Los Angeles, CA, from June 25 to 27.
The Stratasys SAF™ PP, available in partnership with BASF Forward AM, aims to improve cost efficiency and part quality in Powder Bed Fusion technologies. This innovative material has a lower cost per part and superior surface aesthetics when compared to existing materials, and it is intended to meet the rigorous demands of high-volume production while maintaining exceptional overall quality.
Polypropylene Material for SAF Technology
SAF PP is designed for a diverse range of applications, including automotive, medical, consumer sports, and industrial sectors. SAF PP is durable, chemically resistant, and flexible, making it ideal for automotive components like housings and ducting, as well as orthotic devices and consumer sports gear like shin guards. Its lightweight nature, as well as its water and air tightness, make it an excellent choice for manufacturing intricate, high-quality parts for a wide range of applications.
“With superior nesting ability and a total turnaround time of less than 36 hours, SAF PP allows customers to produce hundreds of parts in a single build. This boosts productivity and cost efficiency, delivering high-quality parts at a lower cost.”
– Neil Hopkinson, Vice President, Additive Manufacturing Technology, Stratasys
The new material has also shown the ability to create strong, defect-free parts with complex geometries, such as flexible tight pipes and intricate sensor mounts.
According to Philipp Götz, CEO, Götz Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG, a beta customer of this material, “The surface finish of SAF™ PP parts is unparalleled. The fine detail resolution and uniform appearance are far superior to any other PBF printed PP we have seen, significantly enhancing the visual appeal of our final products.”
“The consistent quality of SAF™ PP is exceptional. It’s airtight and watertight properties ensure reliable performance across various applications. With SAF PP, we can now bring a wide array of additive manufacturing benefits to unlimited applications that use PP today in traditional manufacturing.”
– Jennifer Govea, Application Engineer, Sun Digital
Speaking about the collaboration, Martin Back, CEO, BASF Forward AM said, “We are pleased to collaborate with Stratasys on the development of this new polypropylene material, optimized for their SAF 3D printing technology. This partnership underscores our commitment to providing robust AM solutions tailored to the needs of industrial manufacturers. Together, we aim to broaden the adoption of AM technologies to make our customers more successful.”
Stratasys will showcase the new material at Rapid 2024, allowing visitors to see firsthand the revolutionary capabilities of SAF PP. The Stratasys team will be on hand to demonstrate the material’s unique benefits.
