Innovation
Micro 3D Printing Now Possible With Heat Resistant Material
High-performance polymers are designed for high temperature 2PP3D printing.
Published: Wednesday, November 30, 2022 – 11:58
(Cubicure, Vienna, Austria) — This new high-performance polymer is ideal for ultra-precise 2PP (3D printing) This will allow micro-3D printing, which meets the exact requirements of the electrical sector for the first time. Cubicure, a high-tech company, and UpNano made this breakthrough in the 3D printer industry possible. Cubicure has made UpThermo, a jointly developed material, available for purchase now.
Special materials are needed for ultra-precise 2PP/3D printing. However, until now, these have not allowed the production of temperature-resistant components with the stability needed, for example, in the electrical industry or for the production of micro-injection molds. Cubicure’s UpThermo material is the first to be suitable for 3D printing in 2PP.
Top value in heat resistance
The UpThermo material, which is available immediately, is stable up to 300° C. (HDT-B, the test specimens were printed with a length of 35 mm). This extraordinary value for a 2PP 3D printed material makes it suitable for use wherever high temperatures are prevalent and highest precision is required. This material could be used to make components for the electric industry.
Cubicure’s hot lithography technology was the prerequisite for this invention. This technology allows for the processing of viscous materials in precision 3D printers and creates components with unprecedented material quality. “Hot lithography opens up a wider process window—also for light-polymerizing micro 3D printing,” says Robert Gmeiner, CEO of Cubicure. “With our technology, polymers can be tailored to their application purpose, and high-temperature-resistant components can also be produced. That was the basis of our collaboration with UpNano.”
UpNano manufactures the NanoOne series 2PP 3D printers. They are currently the most accurate and fastest printers in their class. These printers have a wide range of applications in both industry and research. This series is highly desirable and very successful because it can print structures in nanometer resolutions as well as centimeter sizes. Although the printers’ applications already include electronics in addition to micro-optics and biocompatible applications in cell and medical research, the use of 2PP 3D printing in this industry has been limited by the lack of heat resistance of the printable materials.
Cubicure and the company have made that possible. Cubicure has a large portfolio of performance materials that include precision materials, high temperature materials with good fire resistance, impact resistant photopolymers and elastomer-type material widely used in the sector.
Material matters
Cubicure and UpNano have now combined their material development to make it possible for hot lithography to be combined with 2PP 3D printing. This expands the possibilities of micro 3D printing. Hot Lithography technology is also available for retrofitting existing NanoOne 3D Printers. This allows for a wider range of components to be produced. UpNano has once again led the charge when it comes opening up new areas for 2PP3D printing with new materials. The company has already demonstrated its expertise in materials development in the past with the introduction of the industry’s first black material (UpBlack), an optically translucent material (UpOpto), and one suitable for printing with living cells (X Hydrobio INX).