Posted on 08/12/2016 5:00:33 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Just how strong is strong? When browsing the web for new and exciting material solutions, you are often bombarded with terms like ‘very high toughness’ and ‘excellent material properties’, but that means little until you see a filament in action. US developer of engineering-grade filaments Avante Technology must have been all too aware of that, because they just exposed their recently released FilaOne Gray Carbon Nanotube filled 3D printer filament to a grueling strength test during which it supported 1,000 times its own weight and easily withstood 90 degree bends. Now that’s strong.
This remarkable FilaOne Gray filament was released back in April, and already looked promising at the time. Praised for its extensive list of properties that included water and chemical resistance, high strength and excellent resilience, it looked like everything you could dream of for an FDM 3D printer filament. What’s more, it is one of the lightest filaments available – approximately 20% lighter than ABS and 40% lighter than Polycarbonate and fiber filled Nylon. It is the result of a proprietary Advanced Composite Filament system, on which Avante Technology has been working for a few years now – with the aim of bringing desktop 3D printing to commercial design and manufacturing.
The key to FilaOne Gray’s high strength is its Carbon Nanotube filling, which can significantly strengthen any 3D printed part. CNTs are large molecules of pure carbon that have the benefit of being stronger and lighter than steel, while also being efficient conductors of electricity and heat. When used in 3D printing applications, CNT’s can thus produce extremely strong, lightweight, and conductive components quickly and cost-effectively. Almost acting like iron rebars in concrete, these microscopic carbon tubes make the filament perfect for performance, end-use 3D printed components – from automotive parts to drone landing gear.
While that sounds great on paper, these properties are further underlined with the strength test visible in the clip below. Despite its very low weight, a test bar 3D printed with FilaOne Gray easily held on to 1,000 its own weight. What’s more, it took great difficulty to drill a hole in the thin bar, while even multiple 90 degree bends were made without cracking or crazing the bar. In short, it easily withstood the strength test.
(VIDEO-AT-LINK)
It’s a fascinating result because it underlines the current state of the 3D printing industry. While often criticized for its inability to produce functional parts, engineering materials have clearly grown to a point where they can be widely applied in numerous fields and applications. While ABS and PLA are obviously not suitable for engineering purposes, other 3D printable plastics like FilaOne Gray are ready to take over the world. But of course you do pay for the quality you receive, with a single 500g spool costing $199. Even then, however, it should easily compete with other non-3D printable engineering-grade materials out there. For more info, check out Avante Technology’s website here.
When is MagPul buying ?
It’s time for Magpulium in our materials list :)
Note, though, the manner shown in the video was quite imprecise. I believe when tested properly, the carbon nanotube could support much more than was shown.
I agree with you statements. In particular, your numbers are accurate.
But most people don’t know these things and therefore are easily fooled.
That said, I do believe this tech has potential.
Yeah but can ya Weld it? Form it? Laminate it? Mass Produce it?
I’m old but I still like to think about new stuff
I wonder if materials of this type might eventually make “Beanstalks” practical?
For those who aren’t familiar with the term, it’s something from science fiction that many believe might actually make space flight practical. The biggest problem with doing really useful things in space, is getting raw materials or parts off the surface of the earth. A “beanstalk” would act as sort of an elevator, getting parts and materials into geosynchronous orbit, where space ships could be assembled.
It would be a lot cheaper and easier to begin a trip to the moon, mars, or the asteroid belt from orbit, rather than the surface of the earth.
Mark
Later
Any idea how it is shear stength vs compression strength? I read this as they only measured it in elasticity.
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