Clean and Green 3D Printing

By DE Editors

Z Corporation (Burlington, MA; zcorp.com) has released a new high-performance composite material that it claims offers the “easiest, safest, and greenest post-processing option for finishing monochrome 3D printed models — a quick mist with tap water.” Monochrome parts made with the company’s zp140 composite powder require no further treatment or equipment to reach their finished strength.

Z Corp. says that in addition to the water-curing capability, zp140 powder delivers whites that are 180 percent whiter than before. Parts are said to harden in less than half the time of previous materials, enabling users to print detailed parts faster.

By going green and eliminating the need for caustic baths or razor knives for finishing, zp140 material makes conceptual modeling more suitable for office and classroom environments, according to Z Corp. Zp140-based parts can be finished with Z Corp.’s existing infiltrants for such applications as fit and functional testing or for colored parts.

In a related announcement, Z Corp. also introduced its new zp131 material. For further details, visit zcorp.com.