Aceo 3d printing

Wacker Chemie to shut down ACEO silicone 3D printing service »

Stay up to date with everything that is happening in the wonderful world of AM via our LinkedIn community.

ACEO (aka ACEO3D), the silicone 3D printing service of German silicone giant Wacker Chemie, is shutting down at the end of 2021. The company took orders until December 10th and from now on will only work on projects on a case-by-case basis. While introducing a unique technology with unparalleled silicone 3D printing capabilities, unfortunately, ACEO3D also provided a perfect case to show what not to do when marketing such an innovative and potentially revolutionary product.

(Photo: WACKER)

3dpbm began covering ACEO in 2017 when we first learned about this technology at the Rapid.Tech show in Erfurt. However, during the five years of ACEO3D activity, we always found news on the company hard to obtain. We were never able to identify a reference contact and always felt some resistance. Any company that launches a new and potentially disruptive product needs to understand how important it is to have continuous media coverage at a global level, especially from specialized industry media.

Trade media have only one goal: to help the industry grow and grow with it. Generalist media attention is great, it can bring enormous amounts of global visibility and “15 minutes of fame”, but it is random and not targeted. At the same time, many large companies that develop innovative new products think they can grow it by just leveraging their existing network of clients. That is often not the case. If you are looking to disrupt the industry you are in, you also need to have the ability and strength to look beyond your status quo. You need to dedicate almost as many resources to this as you do to develop your product. Because if the right people don’t hear about it, even the best product in the world will eventually fail. This is all the more true in a niche, fragmented, complex and highly disruptive market like additive manufacturing. Even more so in a niche of a niche such as thermoset extrusion AM.

With 3D printing labs in the US and in Germany, the ACEO platform was developed specifically for printing silicone elastomers, making it something of a unique technology in the AM sector. The first ACEO Open Print Lab was established in 2017 in Burghausen, Germany. The facility (and the new U.S.-based one) aimed to help customers explore and understand the potential of 3D printing with silicones—a still niche segment in AM. This kind of innovation needed to be shown continuously: every new application needs to be highlighted as much as possible. In the initial phases of development, the only way to do this cost-effectively is through industry media. Companies often invest millions in developing a product but only budget a few thousand to market it (beyond showing it at trade shows, which can only be done once a year and only to a localized audience). Online, global trade media can help your company show its products to a targeted audience, everywhere in the world, at a fraction of the cost of any other marketing activity (including printed media). At a minuscule fraction of the cost of developing a product, you can plan a year-long marketing campaign on a trade media of your choice. For companies looking to market industrial products, that entire investment can usually be recuperated by finding just one or two new customers.

For its termination, ACEO is blaming the fact that “as for most new inventions, it is taking more time for the market to develop as we have initially expected.” But when you are launching a new technology, you are inherently taking up the role of developing that market. As a leader and pioneer, you need to make investments that will accelerate market development. It’s a huge and daunting task and that is why you need to have the humility to accept all the help you can get but also the strength to find and reach out to those who want to help.

We hate to see unique AM technologies fail to establish a hold on their reference market. Fortunately, there are others such as Arburg (via innovatiQ and Dow Chemical), Lynxter and Viscotec picking up where ACEO left off. At least two other companies, COP Chimie and Elkem Silicones are developing silicone materials for extrusion 3D printing applications. Another very interesting company Spectroplast developed a DLP technology specifically for producing high-resolution silicone parts. Let’s hope they don’t make the same errors and that hopefully, as ACEO probably intended to say on its website, “it’s a good-bye and not a farewell”.

Albirght Silicone introduces 3D printing capabilities; WACKER launches new ACEO silicone 3D printing material

0Shares

3D printing with silicone is a rather niche area, however, activity does appear to be heating up. The two companies in this news update both offer 3D printing solutions for users who want to access the benefits and material properties of silicones.

Albright Silicone, a Massachusetts-based engineering company, has launched a new 3D printing silicone capability for customers. Intended for rapid prototyping, the company now provides a service allowing its customers to 3D print tooling for silicone molding using a special 3D silicone molding process. “This capability of 3D printing and molding LSR is a helpful solution to customers’ problems when trying to develop and prove a concept before investing in metal tooling,” comments Mr. Matt Bont, Product Manager at Albright Silicone.

Additionally, WACKER, the Munich-based chemical group behind the ACEO silicone rubber 3D printing brand, has announced a new 50 Shore A version of its ACEO Silicone GP 3D printing material. With the addition of ACEO Silicone GP 50 Shore A to its material portfolio, the company now offers a full range of Shore A hardness silicone materials for 3D printing.

Drop-on-Demand silicone 3D printing. Photo via WACKER.

Adopting 3D printing in the silicone industry

Founded in 1995, Albright Silicone initially began life as a plastic prototype molder, however the company shifted its focus to silicone prototypes, molding and production over the last 15 years. The company serves a number of customers in the medical, pharmaceutical, industrial, aerospace and consumer goods industries. Its silicone materials are also ISO 13485 and ITAR certified.

The company is now using 3D printing to produce its LSR castings. With the addition of its 3D printing capabilities, Albright is hoping to serve customers requiring a small number of parts for initial testing, but are not ready for metal tooling. Albright states that customers that choose its 3D printing options can benefit from molding with commercial grades of LSR between 10 and 80 Shore A durometer. Other benefits include color matching, molding components with complex shapes, and molding parts up to 75 mm in size.

Albright is not the only company from the silicone manufacturing industry to have implemented 3D printing within its processes. STERNE, an industrial silicone manufacturer headquartered in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region of southern France, has been growing its 3D printing portfolio since 2016. Recently, the company launched a new silicone material for 3D printing, intended for use with its SiO-Shaping system.

Silicone parts alongside 3D printed molds. Photo via Albright Silicone.

Processing silicone materials through 3D printers

WACKER is one of the best-known providers of 3D printed silicone services and materials. Its silicone materials are branded under its ACEO imprint.

Having released its new silicone material, the company now provides 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 Shore A hardness materials in its ACEO silicone line. As with all the materials in the range, the 50 Shore A version is a real silicone elastomer, intended for high-performance applications in typical silicone industries such as automotive, aerospace & aviation, healthcare, machines & equipment, electronics, and lifestyle.

In July 2019, WACKER announced a range of new products for the K 2019 trade fair in Düsseldorf, including ACEO materials and a silicone 3D printer. The company recently expanded with the foundation of a million-dollar Open Print Lab in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Its first facility in the U.S., the Open Print Lab offers first-hand tutorials and hands-on training for customers seeking to 3D print with silicone rubber.

Silicone 3D printing is a small niche within the 3D printing industry that is experiencing continuous growth. As well as WACKER, Swiss company Spectroplast AG is also offering silicone 3D printing services. The company entered the market with €1.38 million in backing from a seed round led by AM Ventures.

Subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter for the latest news in additive manufacturing. You can also stay connected by following us on Twitter and liking us on Facebook.

Looking for a career in additive manufacturing? Visit 3D Printing Jobs for a selection of roles in the industry.

Featured image shows WACKER UV-resistant silicone. Photo via ACEO.

Tags ACEO ACEO Silicone GP 50 Shore A Albright Silicone Mr. Matt Bont Wacker

Anas Essop

Anas Essop is an English and Film graduate, who loves writing about the advancement of technology.

Buying Guide: all about 3D printing materials”

10/10/2017

3D printers are gradually getting cheaper, becoming more common and familiar devices. 3D printing at home no longer causes such horror, and you can only surprise your own grandmother with it. But it’s not so easy to figure out the materials for printing, so many printer owners simply out of habit buy the same material for all their pieces, limiting themselves to what else can be printed.

If the topic of printed plastic is difficult for you, read the new Buying Guide from the Funduk.ua online store. From it you will learn what types it is, what it is good for and how best to use it.

ABS plastic

Let's start our Buying Guide with the most common, best known, cheapest and simplest material - ABS plastic. These filaments are available from all major manufacturers of 3D printing consumables and are great for creating "everyday" objects due to their increased mechanical strength and rigidity.

In addition, modellers love ABS-NTI: it dissolves well in acetone, which means that parts of complex objects can be made from it, which then easily stick together with each other.

This material looks almost simpler than others, often it is glossy, and gloss can be removed only by adjusting during the printing process. True, the main disadvantage is not this, but a noticeable shrinkage during cooling: if you suddenly decide to print a case or stand for your smartphone from ABS plastic, be prepared to make a margin in size, otherwise the device risks not fit.

PVA plastic

The second most famous material is PVA. True, it is not so widespread, because it is not able to withstand heavy physical exertion and is easily soluble in water. On the one hand, this makes it extremely environmentally friendly, on the other hand, you cannot make a durable household item out of it. At home, such threads are only suitable for creating souvenirs.

PLA plastic

PLA is one of the known materials. This material is made from corn and sugar cane, so you can’t argue with its environmental friendliness. However, like PVA, this plastic is not very suitable for household items: it is not very durable, short-lived, and becomes soft when in contact with water. So it should be used only for packaging, souvenirs or items that will never come into contact with moisture.

PET plastic

Continuing the theme of sustainable materials, we turn to PET. You most likely knew this name even before the advent of 3D printing as such: PET plastic is used for food and water packaging, it is considered the only material safe for such purposes. It is resistant to acids, organic solvents, alkalis and even temperature extremes over a wide range (from -40 to +75 degrees). So if you decide to print yourself a cool lunchbox or water bottle, use it.

High impact polystyrene HIPS

If you suddenly decide to make something that is not afraid of bumps and drops - for example, a heavy-duty smartphone case or a toy for a child - choose high-impact polystyrene. This material is in many ways similar to ABS plastic, but can withstand much greater loads.

As an added bonus, HIPS lends itself to limonene solvent, so it can be used even for complex structures. In this case, the strength of the structure will not suffer.

Well, as a minus, there is toxicity when heated: if you decide to print from polystyrene, do it only in well-ventilated areas. The finished item is not dangerous, you can use it in any conditions.

BVOH plastic

BVOH plastic or, in other words, butene vinyl alcohol copolymer is a material that is similar in many ways to PLA, ABS and PET, but is much better suited for printing objects with smooth outlines.

The material is perfectly soluble in ordinary water, this is its main plus and minus at the same time. As a plus, the outlines of finished objects can be easily smoothed out in water. As a minus, it’s definitely not worth making durable household items out of it.

Nylon

Nylon is one of the most durable materials for 3D printing. It is resistant to household wear, is not afraid of friction and temperature fluctuations. It is worth using this filament for moving parts and solid objects, but it will not work to make a structure out of it: nylon is very difficult to glue with anything.

Please note that this material is highly susceptible to shrinkage, so the platform will need to be heated during printing to avoid it as much as possible. At the same time, nylon emits toxic fumes, so ventilation of the room will have to be taken care of very well.

Polycarbonate

Another material with increased strength is polycarbonate. Cases and cases for smartphones, various stands are often made from it, they are not afraid of shocks, temperature changes in winter and summer, they perfectly retain their appearance for long-term use.

However, the material is not without flaws. When heated during printing, polycarbonate releases toxic compounds, so it should only be printed in ventilated areas.

T-Glase

Durable plastics include T-Glase, a durable PETT polymer glass designed for printing at low temperatures. This filament is non-toxic, fully recyclable and won't warp, great for printing large objects. After printing, it remains completely transparent, so it can be used to create safety glass, transparent cases and covers, cabinet inserts, and more.

Polymethyl methacrylate

Another "plastic glass", its other names are Acrylic, plexiglass, acrylic, PMMA). Easy to use, durable eco-friendly material that sticks easily. All in all, great for custom printing and would be a dream builder for any builder. But alas, in 3D printing today it is used extremely rarely, as it is not suitable for storage in coils. Manufacturers are actively working on this problem, so it is possible that some kind of acrylic that is easy to use will appear on sale soon.

High density polyethylene (HDPE, HDPE)

Polyethylene - is it a familiar word? Yes, this is exactly the material from which most bags in stores are made. In 3D printing, it is used very rarely, but at the same time it is extremely cheap and widespread. The reasons for the rare use lie in the minuses of the filament: it melts very easily, shrinks heavily during printing, manages to freeze in uneven layers, and, moreover, emits harmful fumes. Simply put, the use is fraught with great difficulties, requires skill, training and high typing speed. But if you adjust, you can print everything you need very cheaply.

Polypropylene (PP, PP)

Lightweight, widely distributed, non-toxic, very affordable material, with excellent moisture and chemical resistance - all this is about it, polypropylene. This material is often used for grocery packaging in stores, but it can also be used to print everyday items, including even tableware.

As the main disadvantage of the material, it is worth noting its strong shrinkage, so you will have to print with heating up to 220 degrees.

Polycaprolactone (PCL)

Polycaprolactone is a material that is difficult to make friends with. It melts at temperatures as low as 60 degrees and easily sticks to the surface of the printing table, so if you decide to use it, you will have to adapt. It is desirable - quickly and immediately, without the use of high temperatures - heating this filament to 200-220 degrees can lead to the material losing its properties and breaking the printer (extruder).

However, the material itself is very good. It is plastic, non-toxic, and when it enters the human or animal body, it decomposes on its own, without any intervention. It can be used for mock-ups, souvenirs, food containers and plates - of course, those in which hot food will not be served.

Polyphenylsulfone (PPSU)

Polyphenylsulfone is rarely used at home - it is an industrial material that is often used in the aircraft industry. It is not afraid of any solvents, is resistant to fuels and lubricants and melts at extremely high temperatures (370 degrees).

***

There are also several materials and additives that are used much less often by manufacturers.

Metal powder

It is not yet possible to print an object completely from metal in home conditions - this technology is very expensive, it is used only in industrial printers. But it is quite possible to increase the strength and give the object the effect as if it was made of metal. Metal additives such as BronzeFill are used for this.

In fact, such a material is a PLA base with microscopic metal particles in large quantities. When finished, the printed object looks like metal and, more importantly, lends itself to polishing, which will come in handy to increase the likeness.

Recycled wood composite

The addition of sawdust to a conventional polymer allowed manufacturers to obtain another material - imitating wooden objects (LAYWOO-B3). This material is virtually indestructible after printing is completed, non-toxic and looks very realistic. More importantly, you can continue to work with it as with the most ordinary wood - drilling, grinding, sharpening, etc.

Using different printing temperatures, you can achieve a light (180 degrees) or maximum dark (250 degrees) surface. By combining temperatures, you can achieve a spectacular pattern.

Sandstone simulators

Manufacturers also learned to imitate mineral objects - for example, sandstone (Laybrick plastic). This material does not require additional heating of the platform, is characterized by minimal deformation and low toxicity in use. What is even more interesting, the final appearance depends on the temperature at which objects from such a filament are printed: at 165-19At 0 degrees, they turn out to be more “slick”, smooth, and temperatures from 210 degrees and above allow you to get a surface close to natural texture.

Carbon fiber

The three previously mentioned additives make it possible to give objects a far from plastic look. Carbon fiber, unlike them, does not affect the final appearance, but the strength of objects. The AdditiveCARBON additive makes the construction more durable. True, it still has a huge minus: it is unrealistic to print an object completely with such a thread, you can only lay out separate layers from it, thus strengthening the structure from other materials.

***

Photopolymers

Photopolymers stand apart from all these materials. For them, other printers based on the use of photopolymer materials and sunlight are used. Naturally, printing takes place in a closed unit, in order to protect the user's eyesight in this way.

The weak point of all polymeric materials is their high printing cost. But there is no problem with variety. Today, manufacturers offer polymers of increased hardness, flexible for rubber models, flexible for hard models, as well as special varieties for jewelers and dentists.

From a technical point of view, eight types of photopolymers are distinguished.

High temperature photopolymer

As the name suggests, this material is able to withstand high temperatures when in use. With it, you can make a tap, a piece of pipe, patch the roof on the roof of a house, or make a protective cover for a heating radiator.

Transparent photopolymers

These materials also have a name that is clear without further explanation - they can be used to print transparent or translucent objects. The material has a smooth surface and excellent durability.

Opaque, durable photopolymers

Opaque polymers have a smooth surface and good strength, but their advantages also include increased strength and excellent detail. If you decide to create something like your own Funko Pop! - you just for such material.

Polypropylene simulants

Polypropylene imitators are useful for creating flexible items. This material is resistant to wear, withstands high tensile loads and is not afraid of impacts.

Rubber simulators

Want to print a car model and need wheels for it? No problem! Take rubber simulators and get realistic tires that look and feel exactly the same as the real ones.

Digital ABS

Manufacturers of photopolymers obviously do not like to bother: the last of the custom materials also has a very telling name. In terms of its properties, it is very similar to ABS plastic, except that it has even higher mechanical characteristics, heat resistance and strength indicators than the original.

Biocompatible photopolymers and dental photopolymers are used exclusively in medicine and are not used at home. Their main advantages are complete safety for humans, an excellent level of detail and durability. In general, everything that is needed in the human body.

Production of 3d prototypes in the category "Printing services". Compare prices and order at Prom.ua

Photoshop
Production of pos materials 9Ol000
3D-Printing with plastic, 3D-Printing, 3D-Modeling FDM printing

Service

from 5 UAH/g

3dbort (3D-Druk, 3D-Modeling)

SLA Printing (photopolymer printing)

Service from 10 UAH

3DBORT (3D-Druck, 3D-model)

3D printer services

Service

from 100 UAH

Family Maysterskaya

Production of 3D Prototypes, 3D models

Service

dated 1 UAH

Making 3d prototypes, printing on a 3d printer, making molds

Service

from 1 UAH

3D printing

Service

4 UAH/g

0003
3D Printing in cooking

Service

4 UAH/g

Practice House

3D Print

Service
4 UAH/g

Practice House
9000 3D Semanding
9000 2 /g

Practice House

3D printing holder for jewelry

Service

4 UAH/g

Practice House

Plastic for 3D printing SUNLU HIPS, 1. 75 mm, 1 kg, white

Service

492 UAH

Mobi Space

See also

Set of plastic for 3D printing PLA, L=5 m x 5 colors, d=1.75 mm, 0.100 kg, melting point 185-210 gr.

Service

163 UAH

Mobi Space

Drawing 3D YM 191 dinosaur

Delivery in Ukraine
425 UAH

INTERNENT-store "delivered"

Services of ZD Press

Service
9000 from 200

PC_Fanatic_Shop, online store for computer components

3D printing, modeling, prototyping

Service

from 3.60 UAH/g

Ardu.prom.ua (overlay NP from 150 UAH!)

Set of plastic for 3D printing PLA, L=5 m x 5 colors , d=1.75 mm, 0.100 kg, melting point 185-210 gr.

Delivery in Ukraine

163 UAH

Mobi-Time

Plastic for 3D printing Sunlu HIPS, 1.75 mm, 1 kg, white

service

492 UAH
mobi-Time 9000 9000 3D Seal Seal Seal Seal Seal0003
Service

4 UAH/g

Practice House

3D Printing Creating a storage cylinder

Service
4 UAH/g

Practice House
3D Print Creating Signs

GRN 9000 4 UAH 9000 4000 4000 4000 4000 3d printing0003
Practice House

3D Printing Creating movie heroes, cartoon heroes

Service

4 UAH/g

Practice House

3D Print Creation

4 GRN/g 9000 print Vinnitsa, foundry, plastic products Vinnitsa

Service

from 5 UAH/g

0002 3D printer Printing Plastic

3D Printer FDM

3D Laser scanning

Decorative frame on wall

FDM Print
9000 3D Models 3D Models 9000
Go to personal account

Buyers

Sellers

Partners

EVO.
Learn more