Boston Micro Fabrication has introduced a new flame retardant material.
BMF produces 3D printers that can fabricate small parts with extreme resolution. For example, their microArch S230 device has a build volume of only 50 x 50 x 50 mm, but has a resolution of 0.002mm, far smaller than most other 3D printers.
Their equipment is typically used to create small parts with complex geometries for unusual applications. These would include medical devices, electronics, microwave applications, microfluidics, and much more.
The news is that the company has released a new 3D print material, “FR”. That stands for flame retardant, and that is in fact the material’s key feature.
BMF explains:
“Boston Micro Fabrication (BMF) is proud to introduce FR, a flame retardant material designed to meet the stringent safety and performance requirements of high-temperature applications. With a UL94 V-0 flammability rating at 2.0mm, FR provides superior heat resistance, durability, and ease of processing—making it an excellent choice for industries that demand precision and reliability in micro-scale 3D printing.”
FR has a heat deflection temperature of a huge 160 °C, making it usable in a range of high-temperature environments. The material is also quite strong and is said to be easy to print with fewer steps involved.
BMF provides that the material is both transparent yellow and black for different application possibilities.
This is quite an important material for the company, as it opens up a huge range of possible applications. Anything that involves high temperatures combined with the need for tiny complex geometries is now possible with FR.
Flame retardant materials are not new to the industry, but they are new in this much smaller part space. It seems that BMF has done their homework and identified what could be a popular niche in the high-resolution, small part space.
Via BMF
