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Resin 3D printing in the DLP process

for durable wear parts and gears with extremely fine details

NEW: DLP 3D printing at igus

3D printing resin with an improved formulation and increased strength

iglidur® i3000 is the world's first 3D printing resin developed specifically for DLP 3D printing of wear-resistant parts and gears. Thanks to its new formulation, the mechanical specifications have now been improved by 50% (flexural strength 90MPa and flexural modulus 2,610MPa).
Its service life is at least 30 to 60 times that of conventional 3D printing resins, so that iglidur® i3000 is suitable for any kind of wear application. Enrichment with solid lubricants makes the 3D-printed components self-lubricating and low-maintenance. It can also withstand long-term application temperatures of up to 80°C.

In the 3D printing service, igus processes its own iglidur® i3000 resin in the classic DLP process with a high resolution that allows precision components to be manufactured. In addition, the UV wavelength of 385nm can reduce excessive curing and ensure a more precise shape.

iglidur® i3000 is now also available as a material in the online 3D printing service: simply upload the CAD model and order wear-resistant parts immediately online.
igus iglidur i3000 3D printing resin for the smallest gears

What is the DLP process?

How the printing process works and what reworking is required

Digital light processing (DLP) is a 3D printing process in which light-sensitive synthetic resins are cured layer by layer with UV light to create a three-dimensional object. In this process, the synthetic resin is located in a basin on the bottom of which is a glass surface through which UV light can pass. This surface is exposed to DLP projection. The core of the projection technology, developed by Texas Instruments, is an array of mirrors: the DMD (digital micromirror device). It consists of many micromirrors that divide the projected light into pixels.After printing, the uncured resin must be removed from the printed shape. This is done with isopropyl alcohol - the shape is "washed". The support material is then removed, and the shape is cured in a UV chamber. Any support structure residue can still be ground away afterwards.

Potential application areas

Due to its high print resolution, this process is particularly well-suited for very small components. Gears with a 0.2 tooth module can be manufactured without any problems. But other special components requiring filigree recesses or ultra-fine holes can also be produced in resin 3D printing, conserving resources and reducing costs.
 Due to its much higher wear resistance compared to conventional 3D printing resins, the tribo-resin iglidur i3000 is perfect for producing wear-resistant parts that are exposed to a lot of friction.
 
Wear test iglidur i3000 3D printing resin

DLP vs. SLA

A major advantage of 3D printing using the DLP process is the time saved. Unlike the SLA process, in which each dot is lasered individually, the DLP process cures the resin surface-by-surface, so build time is a fraction of that required for SLA. The resolution is also greatly increased (up to 27µm pixels), and even the most filigree components can be realized in resin 3D printing.
Bearing and gear made of resin, manufactured using the DLP process



The terms "igus", "Apiro", "chainflex", "CFRIP", "conprotect", "CTD", "drylin", "dry-tech", "dryspin", "easy chain", "e-chain", "e-chain systems", "e-ketten", "e-kettensysteme", "e-skin", "e-spool", "flizz", "ibow", "igear", "iglidur", "igubal", "igutex", "kineKIT", "manus", "motion plastics", "pikchain", "readychain", "readycable", "ReBeL", "speedigus", "triflex", "robolink", "xirodur", and "xiros" are legally protected trademarks of the igus® GmbH/ Cologne in the Federal Republic of Germany and where applicable in some foreign countries.

igus® GmbH points out that it does not sell any products of the companies Allen Bradley, B&R, Baumüller, Beckhoff, Lahr, Control Techniques, Danaher Motion, ELAU, FAGOR, FANUC, Festo, Heidenhain, Jetter, Lenze, LinMot, LTi DRiVES, Mitsubishi, NUM,Parker, Bosch Rexroth, SEW, Siemens, Stöber and all other drive manufacturers mention on this website. The products offered by igus® are those of igus® GmbH