Material Options
There is a variety of materials that are used for 3D printing. Space-3D is always looking for opportunities to expand its capabilities and is to the best of our interest to be able to provide as many options we can for our customers. We currently use two main polymers for our products and those are the following.
- Polylactic acid (PLA): is a thermoplastic aliphatic
polyester derived from renewable resources, such as corn starch, tapioca roots,
chips or starch, or sugarcane.
In 2010, PLA was the second most important bioplastic of the world in regard to consumption volume.
PLA was discovered in the 1920s by Wallace Corothers the scientist who invented nylon, but it never had been successfully commercialized on a large scale.
- Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU): is an elastomer that is fully thermoplastic. Like all
thermoplastic elastomers, TPU is elastic and melt-processable. Further, it can
be processed on extrusion as well as injection, blow and compression molding
equipment. It can be vacuum-formed or solution-coated and is well suited for a
wide variety of fabrication methodologies.
TPU can even be colored through a number of processes. But more so than any other thermoplastic elastomer, TPU can provide a considerable number of physical property combinations making it an extremely flexible material adaptable to dozens of uses.
Color Options
Space-3D has a variety of colors that you can use and always improving the stock. You can see all our available colors here