Additive Manufacturing for Industrial Equipment

Stratasys® PA12 is an engineering-grade Polyamide 12 produced via SAF™ Powder Bed Fusion and chemically sealed to deliver ready-to-use surfaces for industrial equipment. It provides rigid, dimensionally accurate components with improved surface quality, mechanical robustness, and cleanliness for demanding machine environments. SAF™ PA12 is optimized for high-stiffness, precision parts and series production, with typical properties including good tensile strength, elongation at break, and a heat deflection temperature of up to 173 °C at 0.45 MPa. Low moisture absorption and stable thermal behavior ensure dimensional stability under varying conditions.

Chemical smoothing smooths the component surface, closes porosity, and reduces roughness to a sealed, semi-gloss finish. This improves elongation at break, fatigue resistance, and longevity, while minimizing powder loss and facilitating cleaning.

The combination of SAF™ PA12 and chemical smoothing supports high-precision housings, brackets, covers, and small assemblies, as well as lightweight structural components, protective devices, sensor mounts, and alignment features. Printed on the H350™ with controlled parameters, parts achieve uniform mechanical properties across the entire build volume. The design should account for the stiffness of PA12 and provide sufficient ventilation for uniform smoothing. By combining consistent print parameters with validated vapor smoothing recipes, repeatable mechanical and surface performance from batch to batch is ensured.

Stratasys® ASA filament (Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate) is a versatile thermoplastic for 3D printing, suitable for a wide range of applications. Stratasys® ASA is particularly well-suited for producing large end-use components for industrial equipment thanks to its UV resistance, mechanical strength, and dimensional stability. The material outperforms ABS in weathering resistance, making ASA ideal for robust components. It is available in 10 colors – more than any other FDM material.

Stratasys® ASA offers a tensile strength of 33 MPa (better than ABS-M30 at 32 MPa), impact resistance of 321 J/m (vs. 300 J/m for ABS-M30), and elongation at break of 9% (vs. 7%). The heat deflection temperature reaches 98 °C, and the flexural modulus is approximately 2,010 MPa (XZ axis), allowing parts to withstand loads in industrial environments. Low warping and high chemical resistance further support use in large-format prints up to 1,000 mm on printers such as the Stratasys® F770™.

Somos® WaterShed® Black is a high-performance SLA resin developed for applications requiring durability, dimensional accuracy, and environmental resistance. It is particularly well-suited for small, complex end-use components in industrial equipment, as well as detailed models and interior parts that require an excellent surface finish and reliable performance. It offers good tensile strength and a good tensile modulus, ensuring the stiffness and structural integrity required for smaller parts that must withstand mechanical loads and vibrations. The exceptional elongation at break of 15.5% provides sufficient toughness to prevent cracking during assembly, handling, or occasional impacts. In addition, the resin delivers reliable performance in small components subjected to bending stress or sustained forces, making it suitable for clips, latches, hinges, and other load-bearing features in industrial tooling and equipment. The heat deflection temperature of 50 °C allows dimensional stability and functionality to be maintained under elevated temperatures, as commonly encountered on production floors or inside enclosed machinery.

Stratasys® SAF™ Nylon PA12 Glass-Filled (PA12 GF) is a glass-filled high-performance material with high stiffness, increased heat resistance, and very good dimensional stability, designed for demanding industrial applications. With 40% glass bead reinforcement, PA12 GF combines the stiffness and heat resistance of glass with the toughness and processability of Nylon 12, resulting in a composite designed for structural performance under demanding operating conditions.

The material exhibits a high tensile and flexural modulus and resists deformation under mechanical load, while the increased heat deflection temperature provides additional stability under thermal stress. The heat deflection temperature is above 100 °C (HDT @ 1.82 MPa) and supports functional, load-bearing applications. Low moisture absorption and stable thermal behavior support good dimensional stability in environments with varying humidity and temperature conditions.

Parts are printed on the H350™ using SAF™ technology, enabling high nesting density and uniform thermal conditions for consistent mechanical properties throughout the build volume. For critical industrial components, repeatable mechanical and surface properties can be achieved by combining controlled H350™ print parameters — including powder refresh ratios and standard process settings — with validated vapor smoothing recipes.