Pre-Printing Tips for PolyJet High-Performance Materials

Alexa Nahum

22 Sep, 2019 10:58 AM

This tutorial gives you tips for how to use Digital ABS Plus, Rigur, and High-Temperature RGD525; PolyJet’s high performance materials for Stratasys printers.
You can truly optimize final results for these materials if you know how to best utilize GrabCAD Print settings for part orientation, surface finish, printing mode, and tray preparation. Below, we will show you how.

1. Step 1: About the Materials

   First, a short reminder about the main properties and purpose of each material:

   Digital ABS Plus is a high-performance material that is good for creating realistic, precise parts and tools that are tough and heat resistant. It is designed to simulate durable production plastics like ABS, and delivers high impact strength combined with superior finish. It is ideal for prototypes requiring improved mechanical properties and thermal performance. It also enables true functional performance testing. 

   

   Rigur RGD450 is a white model material that simulates polypropylene in appearance and functionality. Rigur RGD450 offers excellent durability, dimensional stability, and surface quality.

   

   High-Temperature RGD525 offers exceptional dimensional stability and great thermal resistance. This material is suitable for static applications that require high temperature resistance. It can be combined with color materials to produce models with unique material combinations, opacities, and hues. Drilling the printed parts is not recommended. Instead, design any required holes and cavities into the model in your CAD program. It is available on Eden/Connex printers only.

   

   All high-performance materials support printing with a range of flexible digital materials with Agilus- giving you flexible materials with better toughness tear resistance, or performance.

   
   

   PolyJet’s high performance materials mixed with other materials on the build tray:

   

   
   

   Printed swatches of each high-performance material mixed with various amounts of Agilus:

   

   A mixed model made of Digital ABS plus and other materials:

   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

2. Step 2: Part Orientation Tips

   If surface matching is required, place all matching surfaces face up. 

   

   

   When printing parts that have a high aspect ratio (X:Y), position the longer edge along the Y-axis. This reduces internal stresses that cause the parts to curve upwards and detach from the tray. 

   

   

   Digital ABS Plus

   
   

   • When printing thin walls (anything thinner than 1.3 mm thick), select the DM compatible for thin walls- DM RGD5161.

   

   High-Temperature RGD525 (Eden/Connex printers only and all digital materials)—

   
   

   • When printing trays that are partially full, position the parts so that they require at least three printing passes. In this way, printing time is long enough to allow material relaxation, eliminating unnecessary printing delays between layers.

   

   • Prefer printing full trays. This reduces part curling on the build tray.
   • Parts thinner than 1.3 millimeters may not meet the mechanical specifications of this material.

   

   In a faucet like this one, make sure that the area above the threaded connection is at least 1.3 millimeters thick.

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

3. Step 3: Surface Finish Tips

   Rigur (when using Objet1000 Plus only)

   
   

   • Prolonged UV exposure during printing causes a yellowish tint in Rigur RGD450 parts. When using this printer, prefer a matte surface finish to protect the part. If you must use a glossy surface finish, arrange the parts so they have similar heights to avoid prolonged UV exposure.

   
   

4. Step 4: Printing Mode Tips

   Rigur (when using Objet1000 Plus only)

   • When printing with Rigur on ObJET1000 Plus printers, use High Speed Mode when possible to reduce print head passes and UV exposure, which can tint the part yellow.

   
   

   High-Temperature RGD525 

   • To reduce internal stresses that cause the part to curve upwards, prefer printing in High Quality mode.

5. Step 5: Conclusion

   This concludes our tutorial. Please let us know if you have any questions or comments. And be sure to read our other pre-printing tutorials about GrabCAD Print settings for PolyJet, rigid materials for PolyJet, and flexible materials for PolyJet.

   
   

   You can also find information on our support center.

   And finally, see some more cool photos of our high-performance materials in action:

   
   

   

   

   Injection mold printed with high-performance materials

   
   

   Flexible closures and living hinges printed with Rigur