As anyone on the manufacturing floor knows, any job is easier if you have the right tools. Without them, the task would be much harder, if not impossible to perform. But even more challenging is making those tools. Machining and assembling them together works, but they’re rarely optimized and lead times are typically long.
We think there’s a better way. That’s why we’re excited to announce the pairing of a new carbon fiber material, ABS-CF10, with the F123 printer series, so you can print jigs and fixtures instead of machining them. It’s a match made in tooling heaven.
And that brings us to another drawback with metal tooling – it’s heavy. ABS-CF10 carbon fiber tooling offers a lighter alternative, so you can make end effectors that accommodate smaller robots, which in turn require less power to actuate. Lighter assembly tools and fixtures can be more ergonomic and comfortable to use, helping reduce the risk of worker injuries.
Lead times for machined tools typically run weeks, sometimes months, before you’re able to deploy them on the shop floor. ABS-CF10 carbon fiber lets you print new tools in hours, to get production running again. Carbon fiber’s strength and stiffness mean jigs, fixtures and drill guides have the rigidity you need, without the worry of flex and misalignment.
The best part about ABS-CF10 is that it’s available on F123 Series 3D printers. With a proven record of trouble-free reliability, F123 Series printers are incredibly easy to use, with true plug-and-print capability. Combined with soluble support material, there’s no limitation on the complexity of carbon fiber parts and tools you can print.
The addition of ABS-CF10 to the F123 Series lineup makes the power of carbon fiber printing much more accessible. We like to think it’s just the right tool for the job.
For more information, visit the ABS-CF10 web page at Stratasys.com. https://www.stratasys.com/materials/search/abs-cf10
