MakerBot LABS Adds Materials to METHOD Platform

MakerBot, a Stratasys company, is expanding its offering of advanced engineering materials for the MakerBot METHOD 3D printing platform, adding three new LUVOCOM 3F materials from LEHVOSS Group, a provider of high-performance thermoplastics for industrial sectors. This brings the number of METHOD materials up to 30, giving a greater selection of manufacturing-grade materials.

LUVOCOM 3F PAHT 9825 NT, LUVOCOM 3F PAHT CF 9891 BK and LUVOCOM 3F PET CF 9780 BK are available to use with the MakerBot LABS GEN 2 Experimental Extruder for the METHOD and METHOD X 3D printers. The LABS extruder transforms METHOD into an open platform that is able to print qualified advanced engineering materials from filament suppliers.

Designed for 3D printing and industrial applications, the LUVOCOM 3F materials have similar properties to their compounded versions used for injection molding. These materials are specially optimized to provide an easy-to-print experience. Parts printed with these materials result in strong, stiff prints with quality surface finish, and are ideal for prototyping, jigs and fixtures, and end-use applications, the company reports.

“The MakerBot METHOD and METHOD X machines offer unique heated chamber capabilities which allow semi-crystalline materials to have their full properties out of the printer, avoiding the need of post-processes,” says Thiago Medeiros Araujo, global product manager LUVOCOM 3F at LEHVOSS.

“The ability to 3D print additional high-performance materials on the METHOD platform opens more opportunities for those who want to test out different materials with advanced mechanical and thermal properties,” says Johan-Till Broer, VP of product development at MakerBot. “LEHVOSS Group is an expert in engineering materials and brings a range of new high-performance polymers to the METHOD platform, enabling our customers to explore new and more challenging applications.”

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.

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