XYZprinting and AM Polymers Elevate Industrial 3D Printing with Advanced SLS Materials

Leading 3D printing solutions manufacturer XYZprinting has announced a significant partnership with German material specialist AM Polymers. This collaboration is set to revolutionize the capabilities of selective laser sintering (SLS) technology by introducing two innovative new materials for XYZprinting’s industrial SLS machines. The expanded material portfolio now includes an FDA-approved, food-grade PP01 polypropylene powder and a high-performance PB01 TPU powder specifically engineered for demanding applications, particularly within the footwear industry. This strategic alliance allows XYZprinting to substantially broaden the scope and versatility of its industrial SLS 3D printers, unlocking new opportunities and expanding the range of possibilities for its diverse user base across various sectors.

Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) has emerged as a profoundly popular and transformative additive manufacturing process, celebrated for its unique ability to produce high-quality, functional parts in series. Its inherent advantages, such as excellent part aesthetics, robust mechanical properties, and the elimination of support structures, contribute to optimized production costs and significantly reduced lead times compared to traditional manufacturing methods. This makes SLS an ideal choice for both rapid prototyping and end-use part production. XYZprinting, having already established a formidable reputation in the desktop FDM 3D printer market, recognized the immense potential of industrial SLS. Since 2019, the manufacturer has made a decisive industrial pivot, focusing on developing sophisticated SLS solutions that are inherently more suited for true mass production and industrial-scale applications. This latest partnership with AM Polymers represents a critical step forward, as XYZprinting now offers not just advanced hardware but also qualified, high-performance materials developed by a renowned German manufacturer, ensuring optimal print quality and application-specific performance for its global clientele.

Introducing PP01 Polypropylene: An FDA-Approved Material for Diverse Industries

One of the flagship materials introduced through this partnership is AM Polymers’ PP01 polypropylene powder, which is now seamlessly compatible with XYZprinting’s advanced SLS machines. Polypropylene is a thermoplastic polymer renowned for its excellent mechanical properties, chemical resistance, and versatility. The PP01 formulation takes these characteristics to the next level, offering an exceptional combination of attributes crucial for high-performance applications. It delivers a high level of detail in printed parts, ensuring intricate designs are accurately reproduced. Furthermore, it boasts excellent chemical resistance, making it suitable for environments exposed to various chemicals, and a notably low density, contributing to lightweight yet robust components.

From a mechanical perspective, PP01 offers a commendable tensile strength of 20 MPa and an impressive elongation at break of 30%. These properties indicate its ability to withstand significant stress before breaking and its inherent flexibility, making it durable for a wide range of functional parts. A particularly groundbreaking feature of this powder is its food contact compatibility, having received FDA approval. This certification is paramount, positioning PP01 as a material of choice for the production of components used directly in food processing, packaging, and storage, including kitchen utensils, containers, and various parts in food service equipment. This opens up entirely new markets and applications for SLS 3D printing.

Beyond its technical specifications, PP01 also offers significant economic advantages. It features an impressive 50% refresh rate, meaning that only half of the unused powder needs to be replaced with fresh material for subsequent prints. This significantly reduces material waste and operational costs, enhancing the overall cost-effectiveness of SLS production. Coupled with a very competitive price per kilo, PP01 becomes an attractive option for businesses looking to optimize their additive manufacturing budgets. Its broad applicability extends far beyond food applications, making it ideal for the medical sector, where it can be used for patient-specific anatomical models, non-implantable devices, and laboratory equipment. In the automotive industry, it’s perfect for creating prototypes, custom interior components, ventilation systems, and lightweight housings. Robotics can leverage PP01 for grippers, custom end-effectors, and various machine parts. Educational institutions and research facilities will also find it invaluable for prototyping and functional models. Its versatility makes it suitable for creating robust housings, efficient ventilation systems, and secure containers for liquids, showcasing its adaptability across diverse industrial needs.

John Calhoun, Director of Sales North America for XYZprinting, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, “AM Polymers offers the highest performance materials available on the market; they are perfect for machines with an open materials strategy like the 230 and 236 from XYZ Printing. These are high performance, recyclable and easy to process powders, three key points for our professional users.” This statement underscores XYZprinting’s commitment to providing users with not only affordable hardware but also access to premium, easy-to-use materials that deliver exceptional results, further solidifying its position as a leader in industrial additive manufacturing.

PB01 TPU: A High-Performance Elastomeric Powder for Flexible Applications

In addition to the highly versatile PP01 polypropylene, XYZprinting’s industrial SLS machines are now compatible with AM Polymers’ PB01 TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane). This material represents a significant advancement in elastomeric 3D printing, offering an unparalleled combination of flexibility, strength, and durability. PB01 TPU is specifically formulated to provide exceptional mechanical properties, making it an ideal choice for applications requiring highly resilient and deformable parts.

This high-performance TPU stands out for its superior strength, enabling it to withstand considerable forces without permanent deformation. Critically, it exhibits excellent fatigue resistance, meaning it can endure repeated cycles of stress and strain without degradation, which is essential for parts subjected to continuous movement or flexing. Its very good elongation further enhances its flexibility, allowing for significant stretching before breaking. The material also boasts a competitive 20% refresh rate, contributing to cost-effective production, similar to its PP01 counterpart, which is a commendable feature for flexible materials that traditionally have higher waste rates.

A key characteristic of PB01 TPU is its remarkably low shore hardness of 75A. This places it among the softest and most pliable materials available on the market for SLS 3D printing, enabling the creation of truly flexible and rubber-like components. The unique properties of this elastomeric powder make it an ideal choice for a multitude of applications. Within the footwear industry, it’s perfectly suited for the creation of custom soles, midsoles, sports equipment components, and complex shoe uppers, where cushioning, grip, and ergonomic design are paramount. Its inherent elasticity also makes it invaluable for designing watertight seals for various applications, including windows in construction or critical seals in automotive components. Furthermore, PB01 TPU is excellent for producing clamps, grippers, custom tooling parts, and flexible fixtures on robotic machines, where its combination of strength and pliability can significantly improve functionality and operational efficiency.

Driving Innovation and Affordability in Additive Manufacturing

The partnership between XYZprinting and AM Polymers marks a pivotal moment in making industrial-grade additive manufacturing more accessible and powerful. By combining XYZprinting’s affordable yet robust SLS printer lineup with AM Polymers’ cutting-edge, high-performance materials, the collaboration aims to democratize advanced manufacturing. Calhoun concludes, “Our SLS machines are available from $69,900. The combination of this affordable cost and the highest performing materials allows the customer to print quality parts for 1/5 of the price of our competitors.” This competitive pricing strategy, coupled with the introduction of innovative materials like FDA-approved PP01 and flexible PB01 TPU, significantly lowers the barrier to entry for businesses looking to adopt or expand their SLS capabilities, enabling them to produce high-quality, functional parts at a fraction of the traditional cost.

This strategic alliance not only enhances XYZprinting’s product offering but also empowers engineers, designers, and manufacturers across various industries to explore new frontiers in product development and production. The availability of specialized materials for food contact, medical, automotive, and footwear applications underscores a commitment to addressing specific industrial demands with tailored solutions. This proactive approach ensures that XYZprinting users can leverage the full potential of selective laser sintering for increasingly complex and performance-critical parts. To learn more about the extensive capabilities of XYZprinting’s industrial SLS machines and how these new materials can transform your additive manufacturing workflow, please visit the manufacturer’s official website HERE.

What are your thoughts on these new high-performance powders from XYZprinting and AM Polymers? How do you envision these materials impacting future 3D printing applications in your industry? We welcome your insights! Let us know in a comment below or connect with us on our Linkedin, Facebook, and Twitter pages! Don’t forget to sign up for our free weekly Newsletter here to receive the latest 3D printing news and innovations straight to your inbox! You can also find all our compelling videos and tutorials on our YouTube channel.