Shapeways expands its material range and offers PA 11 with EOS

The Shapeways 3D printing service, one of the leaders in the sector, has just added a new material to its range to enable the creation of 3D printed orthoses and prostheses: polyamide 11 (PA11), one of the most widely used materials in selective laser sintering technology. The New York-based company has also announced a partnership with manufacturer EOS, an expert in this 3D printing process. The two partners hope to increase the accessibility of additive manufacturing for healthcare professionals.

According to the Wohlers Report 2019, 3D printing materials saw explosive growth last year – while the report focuses on metals, polyamide powders (or nylon powders in this case) were nonetheless a clear success. Their properties are indeed valuable for many industries: they offer high dimensional stability, very high thermal and chemical resistance and low density. Shapeways therefore decided to add this material to its range, supported by manufacturer EOS.

Shapeways and EOS, a long-standing collaboration

The collaboration between Shapeways and EOS dates back to 2007; the German company was the first to enter into a partnership with the printing service, supplying several industrial machines at the time. This time, Shapeways will offer the EOS P 396 solution, compatible with PA11 – the service hopes to reach the medical sector more effectively. Greg Kress, CEO of Shapeways, states: “When we created the company, we could never have imagined having a presence in the medical sector. We look forward to working in this medical industry and creating products that will change the daily lives of some patients.”

This new partnership with EOS and the addition of PA11 should make it possible to 3D print prostheses, orthoses, insoles and other medical devices. Note that the material offered by EOS is said to have greater elongation at break, thus offering more flexibility, a key characteristic in the manufacture of medical devices. Glynn Fletcher, President of EOS North America, continues: “PA11 can transform the way the medical industry uses 3D printing to improve patient outcomes. It also has the advantage of reducing the negative environmental effects generally associated with petroleum-based plastics. This polyamide is indeed obtained from a bio-sourced product, castor oil.

Shapeways and EOS conclude by explaining that the new material can also be used in the 3D printing of robots, drones or electronic enclosures. You can find more information.

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