viernes, 22 de diciembre de 2017

Metal Plating UAV 3D-printed parts


Currently, Polymertalglobal leader in metal plating solutions– together with a large Israeli defense company, are testing a unique large metal-plated 3D-printed part.

¿Why, and why now? Very simple: In recent years, more engineering-grade materials have become available for use with plastic 3D printers and these offer a good solution for metal replacement applications, including end-use parts.  ¿What if you could combine the advantages of plastic and metal together?

In the coming weeks the 3D-printed version of that end-use part will be assembled and tested on an UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle). Success in testing would mean the defense company has a new option of performing a fully functional test of such parts which allows for faster design and testing cycles.

Metal-plating could enable the introduction of cost-effective hybrid UAV plastic parts with the following properties provided by the metal layer:

1) EMI/RFI Shielding

2) Electrical Conductivity (Plastic antennas, Wave-Guide)

3) Barrier Characteristics (offering protection from humidity, chemicals, fumes…)

4) Enhancing Mechanical Properties – over the original plastic parts design flexibility

5) ESD Protection

Metal plating is a method of depositing a thin layer of metal, usually Copper or Nickel, on an object made of a different material. This is done in order to improve one or more of the object’s properties, for example strength; thermal or electrical conductivity; chemical or heat resistance. ¿The result? a hybrid product and a new set of potential solutions for metal replacement applications.