Polyamide
Models in polyamide are constructed from a white, very fine, granular powder. The result is a strong, somewhat flexible material that can take small impacts and resist some pressure while being bent. The surface has a sandy, granular look, and is slightly porous.
Material samples
Color
- Natural White
- Spray Painted White, Black
- Dyed Black, Blue, Red, Pink, Green, Orange
- Velvet Pink, Velvet Yellow, Velvet Blue, Velvet Green, Velvet Black, Velvet Bordeaux, Velvet Ochre, Velvet Petrol blue
Polished models
Give your models a smooth feel with a polished finish!
Things to keep in mind for polished models:
- We can only polish models that are between 10 x 10x 10 mm and 200 x 200 x 200 mm
- We can only smooth the A side (the outside of your models), it’s not possible to completely smooth the inside
- Polishing will take 0.1 mm of material off your model, so add extra wall thickness to avoid any problems
- Small details could be worn away and may even disappear
- Edges will be rounded and your model will become less’ crisp’ once polished
- Applying the polishing adds 3 extra working days to the delivery time
- Pricing: 2,60€ on top of the natural white color price for each polished model
Dyed models
When dyeing your models, they are submerged into a bath containing color pigment. Dyeing is also referred to as pigmentation or impregnating. Like with most post-finishing processes, a lot of manual labor is required.
- Dimensions max 200 x 200 x 180 mm
- Pricing: 0,25€ per cm³ on top of the natural white color price + a start up of 1€ per type of model with a maximum of 20€
Velvet models
Add fluffiness to your models with velvet fur.
- The minimum bounding box measurements are 3 x 3 x 10 mm
- The maximum bounding box measurements are 150 x 150 x 150 mm
- We can only add velvet fur to the A side of your models, the side that is facing outwards
- It’s not possible to add velvet fur to the inside of your models
- Keep in mind that velvet fur and moving parts are not best of friends
- The fiber applied is about 1 mm in length
- Velvet fur is pretty resistant against friction
- Applying velvet fur adds 2 business days extra to the delivery time
- Pricing: 10€ on top of the natural white color price for each model
Pricing info
- All designs that fit within a bounding box of 125 cm3 and have a maximum dimension of 200 mm comes at 12,5€ a piece
- If your design fits within a bounding box of 27cm3 (for example 3x3x3 cm) and has a maximum dimension of 100 mm, you’ll only pay 5€ per copy of that same design (for example you’ll pay 32,5€ for 5 copies as 12,5+5+5+5 = 32,5)
- For copies of any other design that still fits within the 125 cm3 and have a maximum dimension of 200 mm, you will pay 10€ per copy (for example you’ll pay 52,5€ for 5 copies as 12,5+10+10+10+10 = 52,5)
Typical use
Polyamide can be used for complex models, concept models, small series of models (several copies of a model), lamps, and functional models. This technique allows the greatest freedom of design of all 3D printing techniques.
Technology
Selective laser sintering is used to build your design with this material. The models are printed layer by layer by a laser that draws thin lines in the powder, which melts and bonds it together in order to form a thin layer of the model. After a layer is printed, a new layer of fresh powder is spread over the surface by a roller. The printer has a print chamber that is heated to just below the melting point of the powder; the laser beam adds the extra energy to melt the powder, forming a solid model. After a print job is finished, the result is a big block of heated powder with the printed models contained inside.
Additional information
- Polyamide is a material that is perfect for beginning-designers who want a well-priced model, a maximum freedom of creation, and who don’t want to be bothered with the limitations of the printing process.
- Polyamide models are not suited for outdoor use as they absorb moisture. However, in some cases the material can be treated to make it watertight.
- Be careful for models with large, flat surfaces or plates (< 25 cm). When such a model cools down, it can deform. The deformation process is known as warping.
- The surface can be polished by putting it in a tub with stones that rub against the model when the tub vibrates at a high frequency. Models that don’t have tiny, protruding features, or that don’t need sharp edges, can be polished. Polishing is available upon request.
