New high-tech applications for the SLS process are emerging as a result of CRP Technology’s research into new materials and new working methods for existing materials. The company has developed new Windform based materials, all covered by technological patents.
As a company strongly involved in the racing sector, CRP initially focused only on racing applications — Windform GF was the first material to be developed, followed by Windform PRO and Windform PRO B, whose identifying characteristics are the stiffness and the Ultimate Tensile Strength. Now, however, CRP Technology has announced the second release of Windform XT, the first carbon fibre-based material for SLS technology for true rapid manufacturing applications. The latest tests confirm a strong increase of values: the elongation at break is up to 3.3%, the UTS (ultimate tensile strength) is 79.24 Mpa*g/cm3 and the tensile modulus per density unit is 7695 Mpa*g/cm3 (previously only 6649 Mpa*g/cm3).
Furthermore, the surface finish of Windform XT is also much improved over its predecessor. "The main improvement with this second release," commented Franco Cevolini, CRP Chairman, "is the homogeneity of the material, it is now very easy to achieve good surface quality, reliability during the build process and accuracy. It is also quite simple to attain good mechanical properties with no warpage at all."
