ULTEM 3D Printing Service
Get an instant online quote for customizing ULTEM 3D printed parts. Certified to ISO 9001:2015, ISO 13485 and AS9100D.
About ULTEM 3D Printing
ULTEM is the trade name of a class of PEI(polyether imide) thermoplastics with special properties that even approach those of some advanced thermosetting polymers. ULTEM plastics offer excellent temperature, flame and chemical resistance without sacrificing their mechanical strength. It is by far the strongest plastic available for FDM 3D printing, and some of its grades are also biocompatible, making it a common choice in the medical industry.
ULTEM is unique in using FDM technology to print high-performance components. This material has excellent mechanical, thermal and insulating properties, making it ideal for high-performance applications in the automotive, aerospace and medical sectors.
3D Printing ULTEM at a Glance
| Application | Medical tooling, jigs and fixtures, molds for composite manufacture |
| Advantages | Extremely high strength, electrically insulating, temperature resistance, food compatibility |
| Disadvantages | High cost |
| Lead Time | 1 day |
| Price | $$ |
| Minimum Feature Size | 0.010" (0.254 mm) for parts below 16" (406.4 mm) and 0.013" (0.330 mm) for parts above 16" (406.4 mm) |
| Tolerances | Z plane: +/- 0.010” (0.254 mm) for the first inch, plus +/- 0.002” (0.0508 mm) for every inch thereafter. XY plane: +/- 0.004” (0.1016 mm) for the first inch, plus +/- 0.002” (0.0508 mm) for every inch thereafter. |
| Layer Height | 0.010" (0.254 mm) for parts below 16" (406.4 mm) and 0.013" (0.330 mm) for parts above 16" (406.4 mm) |
| Max Part Size | 24” x 36” x 36” (610 mm x 915 mm x 915 mm) |
FDM ULTEM 1010
ULTEM 1010 grade has excellent heat resistance and can withstand high temperature autoclave sterilization without decomposition. It is food grade certified, ensuring compliance in contact with food. Therefore,ULTEM 1010 is widely used in automotive, food, medical, aerospace and other industries requiring heat-resistant processing and cleaning, typical applications include medical fixtures and surgical navigation parts that can be reused in autoclaves.
FDM ULTEM 1010 Properties
| Tensile Strength (MPa) | Elongation at Break (%) | Flexural Strength (MPa) | Heat Deflection Temperature (℃) | Glass Transition (℃) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 64 | 3.3 | 144 | 216 | 215 |
FDM ULTEM 9085
ULTEM 9085 achieves excellent fire resistance, low smoke, low toxicity (FST) performance by adding flame retardants, and meets the UL 94 VO flame retardant standard. At the same time, it also maintains excellent high strength and low density properties. ULTEM 9085 is therefore ideal for functional prototypes and composite molds where flame retardant performance is required, enabling lightweight design while meeting fire safety specifications
FDM ULTEM 9085 Properties
| Tensile Strength (MPa) | Elongation at Break (%) | Flexural Strength (MPa) | Heat Deflection Temperature (°C) | Impact Strength Notched (J/m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 69.2 | 5.4 | 104 | 176.9 | 88.5 |
Finishes
Using FDM technology to print ULTEM material parts, the post-processing scope is limited, mainly by selecting different colors, removing supports and sanding. FDM printed ULTEM parts often have visible layers on the surface and are not suitable for applications that require a high degree of smoothness. A specific appearance can be obtained by spraying, painting, polishing, etc., but the overall post-processing capacity is limited.
Although the range of post-processing is limited, by choosing the right combination of technologies, you can still obtain high-quality FDM printed ULTEM parts. It is necessary to balance the printing efficiency and post-processing requirements according to the actual needs.
Cost-saving Design Tips
When printing ULTEM using FDM technology, the following design strategies need to be noted:
- The printing direction makes the overhang part need to be supported, and large inner cavity design should be avoided. Soluble support materials can be used.
- Compared with other FDM plastics,ULTEM has higher interlayer bonding strength and can produce parts with better Z-axial strength. However, vertical loading direction design should be avoided.
- ULTEM is a high-performance engineering plastic, which should give full play to its strength advantages and choose the appropriate grade and color.
- Select the best ULTEM material grade according to the use environment and load conditions.