From Dow Chemical, OBC combines versatile and inflexible into one distinctive materials with properties of each.
Posted on September 11, 2019
by
Alec Richter
OBC 3D printing filament is a breakthrough 3D printing materials from the chemists at Dow Chemical. Designed for high-performance 3D printing, OBC is comprised of a novel polyethylene-based mix that brings polyolefin materials properties to 3D printing. By mixing these two collectively, not solely does it have glorious dimensional stability and superior chemical resistance, it extremely simple to print and its light-weight. Step into a brand new world of expanded capabilities for 3D printing supplies with OBC.
Let’s break it down-
Let’s break it down.
Density
OBC stands for Olefin Block Copolymer, which is an uncommon materials throughout the world of 3D printing. It’s a proprietary mix of plastics that makes OBC simple to print and grants it some chemical resistance and adaptability. This mix has very low density with out sacrificing power and toughness. Density will get difficult on the subject of filament that’s accessible by weight, and in OBC’s case, it implies that 100 meters of filament will weigh 30% lower than 100 meters of PLA or PETG filaments. OBC has a density of 0.9 grams per cubic centimeter whereas PLA has a density of 1.2 grams per cubic centimeter. That implies that a 350 gram spool will print as many elements as a 500 gram spool of PLA or PETG – regardless of their completely different weights, they each have round 320 meters of fabric on the spool. What this all means is that elements 3D printed in OBC will float on water with out even attempting.
Versatile But Inflexible
OBC has a low flexural modulus which suggests OBC provides flexibility that different filaments simply cannot match. Its excessive fatigue resistance means that you can print issues like residing hinges that may be repeatedly exercised backwards and forwards with out fatigue. OBC’s mechanical properties could be tuned by particular design purposes – that’s: versatile when skinny however could be stiff when printing thicker cross sectional space elements. Ultimately, OBC’s uniqueness as a fabric is that practical elements could be designed with sections which are robust and inflexible, however have a flip closed lid that’s all a part of the identical 3D print.
OBC could be versatile or inflexible relying on particular design issues.
Straightforward to Print
OBC is simple to print and requires little or no high quality tuning along with your printer. It’s one of some versatile 3D printing supplies that’s approachable to inexperienced customers. The place different supplies can buckle within the printer’s extruder, as a filament this materials is inflexible sufficient to be simply extruded by mainly any extruder sort. Although simple to print, it nonetheless boasts breakthrough options that solely Dow Chemical may design.
Printing OBC is straightforward; not like different versatile 3D printing supplies, it will not buckle in an unconstrained extruder.
Actual World Functions
The place a chemically resistant materials is required for a 3D print or a residing hinge that can be utilized again and again, OBC is the filament of alternative. For instance, the same polyethylene could be present in merchandise like milk jugs and reducing boards, that are inflexible even at their thinnest level, and polypropylene, one other comparable materials, is utilized in contact circumstances and meals storage containers that are versatile and may snap shut again and again with out fatiguing.Â
There are a lot of actual world purposes of polypropylene and polyethylene, from meals to chemical security,
{Hardware} Concerns
Printing temperatures for OBC are decrease than could be anticipated. Relying on the precise printer setup, best temperature is wherever between 160°C and 200°C and 60°C and 100°C for the mattress. Which means that most printers on the market are able to printing this materials, with the temperature of the mattress being the limiting think about some circumstances; some printers can’t attain 100°C however can get shut sufficient to work. An vital factor to notice is that OBC may be very particular on the subject of mattress adhesion. The place different filaments work properly with quite a lot of adhesives, OBC will solely work with packaging tape, particularly polypropylene packaging tape. As soon as it’s utilized to the 3D printer’s mattress floor, prints will stick exceptionally properly.
Not like different 3D printing supplies, {hardware} issues are fairly easy: a normal hotend and a extremely popular mattress will work simply high quality.
With its numerous set of properties, OBC is a magical filament with many various use-cases, and coming from Dow Chemical you’ll be able to belief they’ve performed their analysis into creating the best materials for 3D printing filament that’s simple to print and could be stiff or versatile based mostly on the design. OBC is out there in a number of colours in each 1.75mm and 3mm diameters so you may get printing instantly. To order your spool immediately, take a look at the gathering: right here.
Pleased printing!