INDMATEC Launches the PEEK 3D Printer

Today, INDMATEC has launched their new PEEK 3D printer, a 3D printer that is capable of printing high-temperature polymers, such as PEEK. Back in March they announced their PEEK FDM filament, but today they take things a step further by introducing this new 3D printer, which is priced a little over $10,000. It features a 155x155x155mm build volume and is design specifically for the printing of high-temperature polymers. Read and see more about this announcement at: http://3dprint.com/76728/indmatec-peek-3d-printer/

http://3dprint.com/wp-content/upload.../06/peek1.jpeg

Their first printer and they jump right in at the $10 000 mark... serious stones on these guys...

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Originally Posted by Sebastian Finke

Their first printer and they jump right in at the $10 000 mark... serious stones on these guys...

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Have you seen the price of PEEK filament? That stuff costs around $156 for about half a pound. Nobody who can't easily afford a $10,000 printer is going to be printing that stuff in a non-professional/corporate environment anyway. Neither the filament nor the printer was really designed for hobbyist or home use.

seems a bit pricey. Don't you just need an all metal hi-temp extruder.

Also very small build volume for that price.

I do have uses for a really hi-temp filament - but they're probably pricing themselves out of the market both with the filament and the machine.

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Originally Posted by curious aardvark

seems a bit pricey. Don't you just need an all metal hi-temp extruder.

Also very small build volume for that price.

I do have uses for a really hi-temp filament - but they're probably pricing themselves out of the market both with the filament and the machine.

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It's not just high-temperature. According to it's description:

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A high-performance material that has an extremely high melting point (343°C), better wear and abrasion properties than titanium and steel, is repeatedly sterilize-able, chemically inert, and biocompatible (meaning it can be used in both harsh corrosive operating fields and in human implants).

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Again, that really doesn't sound like something most hobbyists or people would be using in their homes, especially the part about it being suitable for implants, it's melting point is also well well beyond what most hotends can safely reach without causing permanent damage or even melting and causing a fire, a little beyond just simply needing a higher-temp extruder. It might be the go-to filament in the future, after all, 3D printers used to have six-figure costs and be the size of a truck. But it's CLEARLY designed for professional or even medical use for now, they aren't even considering pricing themselves for the retail market.

We printed this spiral vase in PEEK today on our Hyrel 3D System 30M with the MK1-350 print head, which prints at up to 400C and also prints with polycarbonate.

http://hyrel3d.net/images/peek/PEEK.50.jpg

That's the MK1-350 above the vase.

I am very interested tu understand if the 3D printed PEEK parts are suitable for mechanical and dinamic applications.
What about the anisotropy created by the deposition process?
Which differences can be found between the printed material and the injected one (i.e. the Victrex PEEK 450G)?
What about the crystallinity of the product?

Many thanks for your answer

Andrea