MOTION plastics supplier, igus South Africa, has introduced a new 3D printing service capable of producing custom parts in two engineering-grade polymers with exceptional strength and without the need for lubrication.
This step bridges the gap between traditional injection moulding and fast-turnaround additive manufacturing, allowing engineers to get custom parts in days rather than weeks without compromising on durability or performance.
According to igus South Africa product specialist, Juan-Eric Davidtz the igus solution is unlike standard 3D printing filaments which lack the load capacity or wear resistance required in industrial applications. The new solution uses iglidur 150 and iglidur 190 materials. These are the same engineered polymers used in igus’s injection-moulded plain bearings and other parts. As a result, customers get the same benefits, including low friction, dry-running operation and zero lubrication requirements but with the flexibility of custom geometries and rapid prototyping.
iglidur 150 is a versatile, food-grade material ideal for general-purpose bearings and sliding elements. It offers excellent wear resistance, good chemical stability and is certified to meet strict EU Regulation 10/2011 requirements making it a strong choice for packaging machinery, food processing and general industrial applications.
iglidur 190 is a heavy-duty material formulated for higher load capacity and impact resistance. It is particularly suited to parts exposed to high stress, shock loading or abrasive conditions such as gears, racks and pulleys.
By pairing these specialist materials with precision 3D printing, igus delivers an engineered solution that it says outperforms conventional printed plastics. The result is a printed part that lasts longer and needs no ongoing maintenance like its injection-moulded counterpart.
“The real advantage here is that customers can get the same proven igus polymer performance in a custom one-off or low-volume run. For our customers manufacturing or maintaining machines, as well as designers, this means faster time to delivery, reduced downtime and a reliable path from prototype to production,” concludes Davidtz.
Industrial applications
The introduction of its advanced polymer 3D printing service has paved the way for rapid turnaround of one-offs, small production runs or working prototypes from the same material as its world-renowned injection moulded products.
According to the company, although walk-in business of any type is catered for, the top industrial applications include bushes and plain bearings, gears and gear wheels, rollers and Idler wheels, linear slide Pads and carriages, custom wear pads and strips, chain guides and cable carriers, valve seats and seals, robotic end effectors, housings and brackets, and specialised conveyor components.
