Aerosint claims its selective laser sintering PEEK 3D printer could dramatically reduce material waste

May 12, 2020 | Case Study

Because of its unique properties, such as resistance to high temperatures and harsh solvents, the polyaryletherketone (PAEK) family of thermoplastics has been used in demanding applications in sectors including automotive, aerospace, oil and gas, and medical. The 3D printing (3DP) community has made considerable efforts in developing PAEK materials that can be additively manufactured. Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) stands out as the most developed material, but most 3DP companies develop fused-filament fabrication (FFF) solutions for PEEK printing, and FFF's limitations mean the printed parts don't have the required quality for many industrial applications. A handful of companies are developing selective laser sintering (SLS)-based solutions that target these uses, most notably EOS – but its solution remains much more expensive than traditional methods due to a large amount of material waste. Another 3DP developer, Aerosint, claims its technology could potentially achieve a significant waste reduction and offer a much more economical solution for PEEK 3D printing.