Objet Geometries recently introduced three application-specific materials targeted to the unique needs of the hearing aids market. Released together with Objet’s new production-ready system for hearing aid moulds, the three new photopolymer resins are the newest members of Objet’s rapidly growing FullCure line of materials. The materials are designed for use with a special version of Objet’s 3D printing system, creating a complete solution for manufacturing hearing aid moulds. Already proven in a wide range of RP and modelling applications, the PolyJet technology enables the printing of ultra-thin 16-micron layers of material — creating the exact 3D structure required.

The hearing aids materials, FullCure 640 (clear), FullCure 660 (rose colour) and FullCure 680 (skin colour), have passed biocompatibility tests. In addition to their colour differences, Objet’s gel-like FullCure Support material enables the intricate shapes and smooth, unmarked surfaces necessary in hearing aid manufacturing. Furthermore, the new resins are environmentally safe, require no skin contact as they are delivered in fully sealed 2 kg or 3.6 kg cartridges and loading and unloading of the material cartridges is similar to the process of installing and removing inkjet cartridges from a paper printer. The combination of Objet’s 3D printing systems with FullCure photopolymer materials produces fully cured models that can be handled immediately after being built, with no post processing.

With fast, clean switching between materials, and easy, water jet-based removal of the support material, the special Objet solution offers hearing aid mould manufacturers the full flexibility they need to cost effectively adapt their production according to the unique needs of individual orders.