Ricoh will launch a new material for its SLS RICOH AM S5500P 3D printer at formnext.
The company is claimed to be first to develop polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) for SLS machine.
PBT has high strength property and is a heat resistant material according to Ricoh. Its application range includes parts for electrical components extending from automotive motors to bathroom furnishings.
Ricoh says that PBT’s compatibility with SLS RICOH AM S5500P enables its first branded 3D printer to handle the increasing demands of Additive Manufacturing (AM) innovators for lighter components, quicker production time and reduced cost of prototyping.
The Japanese multinational imaging and electronics company plans to showcase PBT samples during next month’s formnext, the global exhibition and conference on the next generation of manufacturing technologies which will be held at Frankfurt, Germany.
Ricoh intends to make the PBT material available for its customers by mid-2018.
Ricoh Europe European additive manufacturing business group director Greg Plowman said: “A long and successful future for the AM market is intrinsically linked to regular advances in material sciences. PBT is an important material.
“It is high strength, heat resistant and maintains its shape during the forming process. Crucially, it enables part producers to remain close to intended manufacturing specifications”.
Ricoh says that the target material characteristics of PBT for SLS machines are to have identical properties as injection molding.
Headquartered in Tokyo, Ricoh provides commercial and industrial printing, digital cameras, document management solutions, IT services and industrial systems.
It has operations in about 200 countries and regions. Ricoh Group’s worldwide sales in the financial year that ended March 2017 has been reported to be around $18.2bn.
