igus 3D printing service: wear-resistant plastic components in 3 days!

Production-ready, long-life specialty components from 3D printer, increase design freedom in automotive industry

Additive manufacturing gives designers new freedom and flexibility in designing special solutions, including the development of efficient vehicle components. When lightweight and wear-resistant components are needed, igus offers the right solution with its 3D printing service. Users can order their special component, made from tribologically optimized polymers, through igus online in just seconds. You can choose from more than 55 lubricant-free iglidur materials.

Fast response time and custom design are daily business in the development departments of the automotive sector. This is why the sector needs partners who deliver special solutions in small quantities, cost-effectively and with the shortest possible delivery time. This is because reacting quickly to new requirements actually provides competitive advantages in the hard-fought automotive market. igus' comprehensive 3D printing service is especially suitable for short-term production of wear-resistant components. The motion plastics specialist uses 3D printing to inexpensively produce prototypes or batches within a very short time frame. The main advantage of additive manufacturing: the designer has maximum design freedom for his/her component, without the need to invest in expensive steel dies with long delivery times. igus produces the solutions based on its wear-resistant iglidur tribo-polymers. Tests in the igus laboratory show that they are up to 50 times more wear resistant than standard polymers and they can be tracking injection molded components in terms of wear resistance. The printed wear-resistant components made of high-performance polymers are also lightweight and quiet when moving - important criteria for building vehicles. Printed solutions from igus are already being used in turbochargers, as pivot bearings in wheel carriers or for mounting a gas ring in the construction of special vehicles.

The print2mold process ensures a free choice of materials

In the igus 3D printing service, the user can freely choose between the different production processes: they can either produce their component using the laser sintering process with the iglidur I3 or iglidur I6 tribo-polymers or alternatively choose from seven different filaments when using the FDM process. To make the individual component from the ideal iglidur material for the respective application, igus also offers the print2mold process. An injection mold is printed for the special solution and is then used in the injection molding machine. This allows the user to freely use the iglidur material range with its 55 tribo-polymers.

Wear-resistant components requested online

The way to a lubricant-free special solution is very simple: call the 3D printing service under www.igus.be/iglidur-designer, upload the STEP file of the component and select the appropriate material. The price for production, (in the print2mold process including the cost for the injection mold) information about the material as well as accuracy and bending strength are displayed online. After selecting the correct tribo-polymer, the user can enter the quantity and directly request a quote from igus or order the parts. Special solutions produced through additive manufacturing are available after only 3-5 days. In the case of the print2mold process, the injection-molded solution are ready for shipment after 10 working days.