DyeMansion, the additive manufacturing finishing systems company, along with hundreds of other 3D printing companies, is camped out at Formnext 2018 this week to showcase its latest developments.
Firstly, from the German-based company comes a greater color variety for its finishing dyes and materials. The company aims to provide customers with as many diverse prospects as possible.
DyeMansion is encouraging people to “step into the colorful future of 3D printed products” at Formnext in order to check out the latest in color variety and completely new finishing possibilities.
However, also on display is a new in-house developed technology for achieving surfaces that it claims can rival injection molded parts, called VaporFuse Surfacing (VFS). It is the first clean vapor technology for 3D printed parts.
“We as DyeMansion believe that the future of Additive Manufacturing, now where several technologies are available it is more about the appropriate finish for final end-use parts and applications, which take the full advantage of AM. The cooperation with printer manufacturers shows that DyeMansion is becoming more and more a platform for exactly those applications. Therefore, we work constantly on expanding our portfolio with new systems and technologies”, says Felix Ewald, CEO and co-founder of DyeMansion.
DyeMansion Introduces Vaporfuse Surfacing
VaporFuse Surfacing works with a solvent which DyeMansion assures is safe to use in industry. After this process is complete, the resulting prints are then smooth and glossy.
“The driving force for our VaporFuse Surfacing is a reduced surface energy. During the process, the surface is dissolved by condensed vapor. Thus, the polymer chains have a sufficiently high mobility and rearrange at the surface. The overall surface area and the surface energy is reduced. Concurrently, the part is smoothed. Upon removing the solvent, the polymer hardens again. Our VaporFuse technology allows to achieve 3D printed parts with a closed, smooth surface”, says Dr. Alena Folger, R&D Chemist at DyeMansion.
This technology will be integrated in the already established Print-to-Product workflow. Furthermore, the company add that it will enable a greater diversity of materials, such as TPU and other soft materials.
3D printing users will now be able to choose from either PolyShot Surfacing (PSS) or VaporFuse Surfacing (VFS) surfacing options, depending on which one works best for their needs. DyeMansion believes that by offering either a mechanical or a chemical based process, they are providing customers with true freedom of design.
PolyShot Surfacing (PSS) has been providing customers with a high quality standard and finish for 3D printed polymer parts for the last few years. It offers a high scratch resistance and a matt, glossy look.
However, VaporFuse Surfacing differs in that it can achieve a smooth, high-gloss surfaces which is also water repellent. Uses for this finish could be in the medical, sports or fashion sector.
Source: Press Release
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