Friedrichshafen, Germany — Polyurethane and polycarbonate will come together on Covestro's stand at the upcoming Fakuma trade show in a 3d printed shock absorber.
The shock absorber will feature a thermoplastic polyurethane outer spring. This is made of a powdered grade which is formed into shape by laser sintering. It has good elasticity and abrasion resistance, Covestro said.
Inside the shock-absorber there is an air chamber. This is made from a liquid resin using a digital light processing method.
Polycarbonate is used to make the adjusting screw in the 40 x 7 cm part. A process is called fused filament fabrication is used to make this strong, hard component.
Lukas Breuers, a marketing manager for 2D and 3D printing at Covestro said: 'this complex structure would not have been possible with conventional production processes. Another new development is the combination of materials with tailor-made properties.'
Fakuma is being held in Friedrichshafen, Germany, 16-20 October 2018.
