Selective Absorption Fusion™ by Stratasys
The manufacturing industry is always in search of new ways to achieve efficiency with the ultimate goal defined by larger production volumes in less time with high quality, low cost per part, and a supply chain that gets parts to where they are needed FAST. With the launch of the Stratasys SAF (Selective Absorption Fusion) 3D printing process, this can all be possible. The SAF technology is able to process a variety of materials such as polyamides and elastomers. It uses reliable industrial print heads combined with an innovative methodology for powder management. High nesting densities and one-pass print-and-fuse enable higher production throughput. All this is enabled by the new H Series™ Production Platform from Stratasys®.
Industrial-grade technology
Industrial Piezo-electric print heads and innovative powder management designed for durability and high uptime.
Production throughput
One-pass print-and-fuse, less consumable replacements, and high nesting densities to satisfy production demands.
End-use production parts
Real-time powder heating, unique thermal management, and broad powder range for many part properties.
Cost saving
Competitive and predictable cost per part.
Big Wave™ powder management
It ensures that the polymer powder is deposited across the whole print bed, preventing thin areas to overheat.
H series production platform
The H Series Production Platform from Stratasys offers additive production capabilities so that you can be in the lead.
SAF 3D Printing
An ideal process for polymer production parts
The SAF technology uses an infrared-sensitive high absorbing fluid (HAF) in order to fuse particles of polymer powder together in layers to build the parts. Due to the Big Wave™ powder management, a proprietary technology, the polymer powder is evenly distributed across the print bed, where industrial-grade Piezo-electric print heads jet the fluid in designated areas to create each layer of the part. This step is then followed by exposure to an infrared lamp, which causes the areas with HAF to melt and fuse together. This sequence is repeated until the parts are completed.
Quality, Consistency, and Repeatability
The controls you need for true production volume additive manufacturing
SAF technology ensures a uniform temperature profile within the printer bed, thus creating consistent and high-quality parts. In the print heads, the print fluid has the role of an efficient cooling agent and it maintains the nozzle’s good condition. These print heads are able to stand in high-temperature environments, like the ones required to fuse polymers with higher melting points. Tight thermal control avoids warping, quality fall-out, and reduces peak temperatures required in the bed.
How Does SAF Work?
SAF technology follows similar processing steps as other powder bed fusion printers:
CAD files are input to the printer for printing. When parts are printed, they are embedded in a “cake” of unused, loose powder.
The cake is removed from the printer and allowed to cool. After cool down, the cake is broken apart to extract the printed parts.
Parts can then be used or post-processed as needed.
