3D Printing Service and Additive Manufacturing for Wear-Resistant Parts

The term 3D printing covers many different types of additive technology. The terms ‘additive manufacturing’ or ‘rapid prototyping’ are often used as synonyms. When 3D printing is used to make components, material is added layer by layer – as the term ‘additive’ makes clear. This differentiates 3D printing from cutting methods whereby material is removed in order to make components (subtractive method). This makes 3D printing very economical in its use of material.

A 3D printer is a machine with which a three-dimensional object can be made, for instance, by melting plastic or metal. No tools are needed. An appropriate design file (3D model or CAD file) is required for the manufacture of an object. The item is manufactured in the 3D printer based on this file.

The service life of a 3D printed component always depends heavily on the load and the material selected. Values such as torque, rotational speed, tensile load and compression load play a decisive role. The manufacturing process also has an influence on the durability of the component.

The accuracy of a 3D printing part depends on the respective method and the quality of the printer. The filament used and the quality of the CAD data also play a role here. Compared to injection molding or machining processes, the possible deviations are greater in 3D printing. In the injection molding of plastics, tolerances in the tenth range are possible, and in the machining of metal, worked in the hundredths. Deviation tolerance is at least 0.1 mm in most processes. Often, confusing the terms “resolution” and “tolerance” results in misunderstandings. The resolution of a Polyjet printer of only 15 μm does not, for example, mean that the tolerance is just as low. Here you have to deal carefully with the different terms.

Basically, a 3D printer works much like a 2D printer that applies ink to a paper by means of a jet or laser. The 3D printing is an additive process in which material is gradually added layer by layer to create a three-dimensional model. There are several methods in 3D printing that work slightly differently. The starting point for 3D printing is the corresponding CAD data for the part to be printed.

Additive manufacturing describes a disruptive production process in which material is applied layer by layer additively to create a physical component. The basis of the layered structure are 3D CAD design data. Components are built layer by layer instead of being subtractively machined from a bar stock (e.g., milled, turned). The production process differs fundamentally from the conservative machining fabrication methods and often results in the saving of material and weight and thereby generally avoids unnecessary waste of material. The meagre selection of material currently available in 3D printing still covers the most common material classes such as metals, plastics and composites.

For manufacturing with 3D printers, you can choose from a wide range of technical plastics. Tribology know-how accumulated over decades is included in the development of our polymers. That way, you can find the iglide high-performance plastic with the perfect specifications for your application. For example for high loads, contact with food, media resistance or high temperatures. All iglide high-performance plastics do without lubrication and are tribologically optimized. That means that they have an outstanding service life and low friction.