OPM OXFAB Industrial 3D Printed Parts
OXFAB industrial material for resistant and lightweight 3D printed parts.
Oxford Performance Materials Inc. (OPM), leader in additive manufacturing and advanced materials solutions, has launched the first two grades of its OXFAB 3D printing technology for aerospace and industrial applications.
OXFAB is OPM's proprietary technology platform and formulation of poly-ether-ketone-ketone (PEKK), an ultra-high performance polymer most recently used in a joint research venture with Yale to produce 3D printed medical devices. Its exceptional strength, thermal and radiation resilience and wear properties make it the ideal for industrial and aerospace applications.
OPM Aerospace & Industrial uses OXFAB technology to deliver lightweight, high performance, cost-competitive, 3D printed thermoplastic parts for commercial and military aircraft, spacecraft and other industrial markets. The company's additive manufacturing technology produces very complex parts that equal the performance of a range of traditionally manufactured aluminium and composite components at lighter weight and reduced cost.
New grade, OXFAB-N, is composed of unmodified neat PEKK, a best-in-class material with a very low microwave dielectric constant and is well suited for unique electrical applications. In contrast, OXFAB-ESD is a carbon filled PEKK compound with superior mechanical properties ideal for demanding structural applications in the aerospace and industrial markets.
"We believe that OXFAB will fundamentally improve the way the world's aircraft and industrial components are manufactured," said Paul Martin, President of OPM Aerospace & Industrial. "While additive manufacturing with commodity polymers has been taking place for some time now, this is the first time PEKK is being used for 3D printing in aerospace and industrial applications. Supported by extensive mechanical test data, PEKK is the highest performance thermoplastic available for 3D printing fully functional, end-use parts and components. We are fulfilling critical development contracts for 3D printed parts in a range of applications in commercial and military aircraft, space and industrial products to deliver significant weight and cost savings."
