Additive manufacturing

Additive manufacturing technologies for plastics and composites

IPC has a range of printers for additive manufacturing with polymers and metal enabling you to produce parts directly or to create polymer or metal stamps for traditional processes.

IPC works along the entire value chain. Polymer or composite additive manufacturing makes it possible to produce plastic or composite parts in a wide variety of shapes without the need to develop specific tools.

The PRINTER technical facility can help you with all your development needs. Get technical support from our team of experts, who can advise you on part diagnostics, analysis and identification of the best manufacturing technology for your part, manufacturing methodology and definition of the printing strategy, as well as the design of polymer stamps adapted to the final processing technology and the manufacture and inspection of stamps.

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Three production methods

Direct additive manufacturing

The choice of direct additive manufacturing technology for parts will depend above all on the needs of your project, i.e. the field of application, and the topology or the size or texture of the part.
The three main additive manufacturing technologies are stereolithography (SLA), fused deposition modelling (FDM) and powder sintering.

Polymer additive manufacturing tools

Polymer additive manufacturing tools can be used to produce small runs of plastic parts (10 to 1,000 units) using conventional polymer shaping processes (injection, thermoforming, extrusion, etc). Polymer tools are less expensive and quicker to produce than conventional tools, making it possible to produce semi-functional prototypes using the right materials and the right process.

Metal additive manufacturing tools

Additive manufacturing using laser fusion of metal powders can be used to produce tools for moulding plastic parts, making a wide range of shapes possible for the design of temperature control circuits. Optimised design and conformal cooling channels reduce cycle times and improve the homogeneity of heat distribution on the moulding surface, thereby improving the quality and performance of plastic parts.

Available polymer additive manufacturing machines

5 to 3 mm calibrated filament
Precision: +/- 43 µM
Temperature: 450°C
Rotation speed: 2 to 15 RPM
Flowrate 0.7 kg/h
Materials: PLA, ABS, PA, PEEK, PEI ULTEM, filled materials

75 to 2.85 mm calibrated filament
Precision: +/- 50 µM
Temperature: 350°C (soon 400°C)
Rotation speed: 320 RPM
Flowrate 28 kg/h
Materials: PLA, ABS, PA, PEEK, PEI ULTEM, filled materials

Platen size: 210 x 210 x 250 mm
Precision: +/- 0.3 mm
Nozzle: 300°C
Platen: 120°C
Layer thickness: 0.05 to 0.35 mm
Open-source software
Materials: ABS, PLA, Nylon (PA), Polycarbonate, Flexible materials, Soluble materials, Filled materials

Platen size: 300 x 200 x 200 mm
Precision: +/- 0.3 mm
Nozzle: 400°C
Platen: 140°C
Layer thickness: 0.1 to 0.2 mm
Materials: PEEK, PEI ULTEM, PA + carbon, PC

Platen size: 610 x 508 x 508 mm
Precision: +/- 0.3 mm
Nozzle: 500°C
Chamber: 300°C
Layer thickness: 0.05 to 0.5 mm
Materials: PEEK, PEI ULTEM, PA + carbon, PC

Platen size: 320 x 132 x 154 mm
Precision: +/- 0.15 mm
Nozzle: 280°C
Fibre nozzle: 120°C
Layer thickness: 0.1 to 0.2 mm
Materials: Nylon (PA) or Onyx (carbon-filled PA), Glass fibre, Kevlar, Carbon

This 3D printer is equipped with a conveyor belt for printing long objects without interruption. This machine is intended for quick and easy mass production. Platen size: 340 x 340 x ∞ mm

Precision: +/- 0.4 mm
Nozzle: 290°C
Platen: 140°C
Layer thickness (inclined): 0.05 to 0.6 mm
Materials: Low-temperature TP

Platen size: 420 x 300 x 210 mm
Precision: +/- 0.1 mm
Nozzle: 280°C
Platen: 100°C
2 extrusion heads
Materials: Low-temperature TP

Platen size: 330 x 240 x 300 mm
Precision: +/- 0.1 mm
Nozzle: 280°C
Platen: 140°C
2 extrusion heads
Materials: Low-temperature TP

Platen size: 610 x 610 x 610 mm
Precision: +/- 0.15 mm
Nozzle: 300°C
Platen: 115°C
4 independent or synchronised heads
Materials: Low-temperature TP

Platen size: 250 x 235 x 165 mm
Precision: +/- 0.15 mm
Nozzle: 300°C
Platen: 115°C
75 and 3 mm FDM module
Double-extrusion FDM module
CNC module
Cutting module: up to 1.2 mm / laser engraving
Paste extrusion module (ceramics, chocolate, etc.)
Materials: Low temperature TP, paste extrusion (silicon)

Platen size: 145 x 145 x 175 mm
Precision: +/- 0.15 mm
Layer thickness: between 25 and 300 µm
Cleaning and post-curing systems
Transparent, Rigid, Flexible
High temperature: tooling applications

Platen size: 350 x 200 x 300 mm
Precision: +/- 0.15 mm
Layer thickness: between 100 and 300 µm
Cleaning and post-curing systems
Transparent
Rigid
Flexible
High temperature: tooling applications

Platen size: 300 x 300 x 360 mm
Precision: +/- 0.05 mm
Layer thickness: 100 µm
Sieving and sandblasting systems
Materials: PA12, PA11, TPU, PP, etc

Available metal additive manufacturing machines

Platen: 250 x 250 x 325 mm
Precision: +/- 0.05 mm
Layer thickness: 20 or 100 µm
Productivity: 4.2 mm3/sec (variation depending on the material and the thickness of the layers)

Materials for tooling applications: Maraging steel MS1-MS2 (1.2709), H13 (1.2343), CM 55 (Co free) and stainless steel CX (Co free), AISI420 (1.2083), X15TN (1.4123)

Materials for industrial applications: TA6V titanium alloy, AlSi10Mg aluminium alloy, 316L stainless steel

Platen: 250 x 250 x 325 mm
Precision: +/- 0.05 mm
Layer thickness: 20 or 100 µm
Productivity: 7.9 mm3/sec (variation depending on the material and the thickness of the layers)

Materials for industrial applications: TA6V titanium alloy, AlSi10Mg aluminium alloy, 316L stainless steel