Introducing the New Stratasys F123 Series Composite 3D Printers

This week Stratasys announced an all-new composite series of 3D printers. These printers include the F190CR and F370CR and are equipped with hardened components to operate with composite materials.  

The F123CR series is manufacturing floor ready, for demanding composite thermoplastic applications. They feature new strong, and stiff nylon-based carbon fiber filled materials including ABS-CF10 and FDM Nylon-CF10. Both materials are reinforced with chopped carbon fiber for strength and stiffness.  

Challenges of Traditional Metal Machining 

Producing metal parts traditionally can be very time consuming and expensive. Machining can be complex and limited in geometry and design freedom. A metal part that requires multiple pieces can be 3D printed with high-strength materials in one build, resulting in lighter weight and more ergonomic parts and assemblies. FDM composite 3D printing allows for reliable quick turn custom tooling, production and prototype parts, significantly reducing lead times and circumventing a lot of the supply chain issues that face traditional manufacturing today. 

F190CR vs F370CR  

The F123CR printers are built on the same platform as the F123 Series 3D printers, a reliable, proven technology.  

There are a few key differences between the F190CR and the F370CR. The F370CR 3D printer offers:  

• A 36% larger build volume (14 x 10 x 14).
• Three additional materials including PC-ABS, Diran410 MF07 and ABS-ESD7. 
• Four material bays with auto-changeover. 
• Insight software 

Choosing a printer that fits your needs will depend on your application. The F370CR is best for those that require the additional specialized engineering materials, access to Insight, or a larger build volume.

All-New Nylon-CF10  

Nylon-CF10 is a new 3D printing material, it is a strong, stiff carbon-fiber filled nylon. It is a composite material combining a blended nylon polymer with 10% chopped carbon fiber which enhances its strength and rigidity. Nylon-CF10 is only available on the Stratasys F123CR series printers.

You can use Nylon-CF10 material to:  

• Replace machined jigs and fixtures quickly  
• Create lightweight yet strong parts due to its high-strength-to-weight ratio  
• Print solid parts with consistent print reliability  
• Design unlimited geometries with hands free soluble support removal  
• Achieve good chemical resistance for tooling  

Applications and Industries 

Composite 3D printing can be used in many industries including Transportation, Consumer Products and Heavy Industry.  

Primary applications for this material include strong jigs and fixtures, especially in elevated temperatures due to its impressive HDT, thanks to the added long strand chopped carbon fiber. This material also excels in prototyping applications for function testing when it is cost prohibitive to prototype for rigorous conditions. Nylon CF10 is also suitable for directly printing replacement parts for pre-existing machines or subassemblies. It’s superior blend of mechanical properties allows it to perform in reliably and reduce machine downtimes.

Below are two example parts printed on the F123CR series printers using Nylon-CF10 material.