- Filament extruder for thermoplastics with high melting point, such as PEI
- Heater band capable of maintaining temperatures of up to 600c
- Application: Filament & 3D for aerospace, marine and ground vehicles
From manufacturing products for space and deep sea exploration to prototyping of jet engine components: over the last few months the extruder manufacturer Noztek has received many enquiries regarding the extrusion of plastics with a high temperature melting point. In order to address this trend, the company has launched a high temperature version of its filament extruder which allows companies to manufacture thermoplastic filament and 3D print incredibly robust prototypes at a fraction of the cost of traditional methods.
Noztek upgraded their existing extruder, with a heater band capable of maintaining temperatures of up to 600c. A new PID temperature controller and K-sensor have also been added. These two components allow for more accurate temperature readings.
The reason for the interest in a much higher temperature filament extruder is the need to extrude high temperature thermoplastics such as amorphous PEI (polyetherimide). PEI resins are high performance polymers that combine very good thermal properties, good dimensional stability, inherent flame retardance and good chemical resistance. And once cooled this polymer can be milled in much the same way as metal. PEI is very suitable for the commercial transportation industry, especially aerospace, marine and ground vehicles, due to its high strength-to-weight ratio and its VØ rating for FST (flame, smoke, and toxicity).
