Eastman Chemical Company is aiding the rapid evolution of 3D printing with its Eastman Amphora 3D polymer.
Notably, the material’s toughness, ease of processing and printability is helping 3D printing filament provider taulman 3D and desktop 3D printer developer Aleph Objects introduce new, advanced materials and printers to the market.
The companies’ collaboration provides complementary materials and desktop printers for the strongest printed parts, taulman 3D’s upcoming material, n-vent, is made with Eastman Amphora and can be used with desktop 3D printers, such as Aleph Objects’ LulzBot Mini for at-home printing or LulzBot TAZ for professional use.
Alex Dudal, Market Development Representative of Eastman Chemical Company said: “Collaborations like the one between taulman 3D and Aleph Objects are why Eastman is involved in the 3D printing market. These two companies are key leaders in this market from a hardware and filament perspective, and collaborating with them allows us to bring Eastman Amphora 3D polymer to a broader audience in the right way.”
The newly announced n-vent material, made with Eastman Amphora 3D polymer, is suited for creating aesthetic parts such a vases and desktop items, and will be available for purchase in summer 2015 in several colours.
According to the company, n-vent’s heat resistance, low shrinkage and higher tensile strength make it ideal for use in prototyping as well as smaller designs.
Thomas Martzall, owner of taulman 3D said: “Eastman provides quality materials, and their technical and engineering expertise round out a set of features that is ideal for 3D printing material development.”
“Because of trends in smaller designs, we’re expecting an increase in multipart designs that need to fit together properly. The reduced shrinkage of this material, along with Eastman Amphora 3D polymer’s bonding abilities, will ensure multipart designs accomplish the desired goal.”
taulman 3D began providing product in October 2012 with the release of its Nylon 618 filament, Aleph Objects emerged from the RepRap project and is fiercely committed to respecting user freedom.
The company earned the first hardware certification from the Free Software Foundation and meets the Open Source Hardware Association definition.
Now, the company provides one of the strongest desktop printer lines to the 3D market — LulzBot.
Most recently, the company launched the LulzBot Mini, which is easier to use and more reliable than other 3D printers on the market, winning editors' choice awards from PCMag and Tom's Guide, and accolades elsewhere.
Jeff Moe, President of Aleph Objects, said: “At Aleph Objects, our mission is to respect user freedom and offer versatile, cutting-edge technology that allows our community to bring their ideas to life. Based on our in-house testing using LulzBot 3D printers, we are confident that n-vent by taulman 3D, made with Eastman Amphora™ 3D polymer, will rank among the best premium materials on the market.”
Aleph Objects will be showcasing its LulzBot 3D printers and sample print made with the n-vent material when the company returns for its second year to RAPID, in California, the preeminent event for 3D printing, scanning and additive manufacturing.