High quality color is coming to laser sintering technology as EOS founder Dr. Hans J. Langer takes on a partnership in DyeMansion as a business angel and shareholder.
If you ever bought a color 3D printed consumer product form Shapeways, iMaterialise, Sculpteo or other online 3D printing services you know that while laser sintered nylon has great elasticity and durability properties. But the color quality if often limited at best. EOS, the world’s leading manufacturer of SLS 3D printer (the kind that most 3D printing services use) has decided to change that by partnering with DyeMansion. The young German company has developed a unique process for high quality color finishing of laser sintered surfaces.
Dr. Hans J. Langer, EOS’s founder, has taken on a partnership in the firm as a business angel and shareholder, stating that a stable, cost-efficient and scalable coloring solution is an essential component for further developing additive manufacturing applications and that the company has now found a good technology partner for that purpose in DyeMansion.
Better Colors, Less Bleaching
The nylon coloring company entered this niche market in 2013, when co-founders Felix Ewald, CEO, and Philipp Kramer (CTO), began to develop a unique coloring technology. According to DyeMansion, this proprietary process markedly improves other characteristics of the treated parts as well. Beside the high quality surface appearance, the parts become dirt, water and abrasion resistant; even the yellowing process so often found in laser sintered products is significantly reduced. The colors are UV stable and resistant against most bleaches and solvents.
The process is already available to anyone using SLS technology: within two working days, parts are colored, polished and waterproofed. Currently there are eight standard colors available, but DyeMansion eventually plans to offer the entire RAL color range. With EOS’s support, the process will likely be adopted by several manufacturers and this hopefully will mean that the color on your next 3D printed iPhone cover can finally last until the next model comes out.
License: The text of "EOS Invests in DyeMansion for Great Color SLS 3D Printing" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.