Photopolymers for Stereolithography and Related Processes

Note: Many system manufacturers also sell photopolymers.
See this page for listings.

Adeka Corporation [Formerly Asahi Denka Chemical Products.] Manufactures photopolymers. (Japan) DSM Somos Manufactures photopolymers. Acquired DuPont SOMOS line of photopolymers. Esstech, Inc. The company makes a wide array of photopolymers and their components such as resins, mono- and difunctional monomers, polymers, initiators and filler materials. Fiebing Co., Inc. Supplies dyes which can be used to color photopolymer objects or parts after hardening. JSR Corporation Manufactures photopolymers. (Japan) Huntsman Corp. Huntsman purchased Vantico in July, 2003. RenShape is the trade name for the company's RP and tooling materials. [Product line was sold to 3D Systems in November, 2011.] A bit of evolutionary history: Many years ago Ciba Speciality Chemicals was instrumental in getting the industry going by helping to finance 3D Systems. It probably seemed like a good way to increase the demand for photopolymers. Ciba subsequently acquired the AlliedSignal photopolymer line and also Avecia's Stereocol line of photopolymers, including materials that produce color models. The combined Ciba products were eventually spun out as Vantico, an independent entity. Vantico sold its products exclusively through 3D Systems. After their acquisition by Huntsman, however, that company sold the products directly to customers except in Japan where 3D continued to be involved. In November 2011, 3D Systems bought the product line from Huntsman, thus completing some sort of enormous circle of ownership. Plus ca change, plus ca meme. Nippon Kayaku Manufactures photopolymers. (Japan) San Nopco Manufactures photopolymers. (Japan) SIBCO Inc. Supplies photopolymers.

Photopolymer Information, Industry       Organizations & Web-Portals How Photopolymers Work... Invest ten minutes and learn the basics. RadTech International Organization for UV and EB curing materials industry. Has excellent free technical and market information, runs conferences, etc. Photopolymer.com Portal for printing plates, stereolithography resins, photoresists, imaging, screen printing products as well as radiation-cured adhesives, coatings, inks and related photosensitive products. Uvcuring.com A public internet forum for the dissemination of technical information regarding the ultraviolet curing process. This site doesn't specifically address RP materials at present, but may eventually be a good source of general information about chemistry issues. Still in development by UV Process Supply.

Shikoku Kasei Industry Manufactures photopolymers. (Japan)

Spectra Group Ltd. Provides contract research and development services in photochemistry, visible light photoinitiator products, cure monitoring instrumentation and technology.

Takemoto Yushi Kabushiki Kaisha Manufactures photopolymers. (Japan)

American Dye Source Formerly manufactured a range of photopolymers under the Tuxedo tradename. Still produces related intermediates and ingredients, as well as conductive and light emitting polymers. (Canada)

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) &
     Other Thermoplastic Extrusion Materials

Note: Many system manufacturers also sell materials.
See this page for listings.

3D Ink [Bright Light Investments LLC dba 3D Ink.]

Bolson Materials Corporation (Canada)

Faberdashery A UK company selling materials for Makerbot and RepRap-based machines. The company sells PLA in a wide array of colors by the meter, but be prepared to pay $60 to $70 per pound for the privilege of buying by length.

Kraftmark The company sells epoxy- and polyether-based materials for use with fab@home machines. Also see their blog for examples and discussion.

RPM Products Produces modeling filament for Stratasys FDM systems, and is also a national reseller of 3D printers manufactured by 3D Systems.

SIBCO Inc. Supplies multi-purpose ABS filament.

Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) Materials

Note: Many system manufacturers also sell materials.
See this page for listings.

Advanced Laser Materials LLC [The company is majority-owned by EOS GmbH.]

Arkema The company introduced Rilsan® Invent Natural and Orgasol® Invent Smooth polyamide 12 powders in December, 2011. It may be necessary to directly contact the company to get additional information.

Praxair Surface Technologies The company makes hundreds of spherical, gas-atomized powders for rapid prototyping and rapid tooling applications. Suitable for laser powder forming processes, Sprayforming (TM) and other processes which utilize metal or ceramic powders

SIBCO Inc.  

Windform Materials C.R.P. Technology SRL produces composite nylons and other materials for series production and other applications. (Italy)

 

 

Laminated Object Manufacturing (LOM) Materials

Cubic Technologies, Inc. Successor organization to Helisys, first company to market LOM technology. Supporting Helisys machines, supplying LOM materials and acting as a service bureau.

SIBCO Inc. Manufactures precision, low-moisture growth papers for laminated object manufacturing.

 

 

Miscellaneous Materials

Also see casting, molding & other materials...

Ballistic Fluid Technologies, LLC provides print heads and materials for users of the "Sanders Prototype" Ink Jet RP technology. This technology has been used by SolidScape, Inc., and Sanders Design International, Inc., for all of their product lines. BFT principal member, Kempton Philbrook, one of the principal inventors on the Sanders Prototype patents, provides users of this technology with replacement and refurbished printheads, heated lines, and replacement BFT proprietary build and support materials.

Jet-Wax Laboratories (Australia) An alternative source of lost casting materials for Solidscape printers. Claims to provide compatible lower-cost materials with some technical advantages.

MachinableWax.com Machinable wax for prototyping and mold applications.

Open3DP The Open3DP project at the University of Washington is an effort to widen the scope of materials used in the powder-based three-dimensional printing (3DP) process, especially for artists using glass and ceramics. Their blog is also a useful gateway to related work in the field.

SIBCO Inc. Supplies plaster powder for the 3D Printing process (3DP).

Viridis3D LLC A supplier of materials, machinery, software and training for metal casting and ceramic applications using three dimensional printing technology.

xlaFORM, Inc. Provides infiltration systems and materials specifically for Z Corporation's line of three dimensional printers.