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Jabil's PK 5000: A Cost-Effective, Chemically Resistant 3D Printing Material  « Fabbaloo

Jabil’s PK 5000: A Cost-Effective, Chemically Resistant 3D Printing Material 

By on December 13th, 2023 in materials, news

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Long and strong part 3D printed using Jabil’s PK 5000 powder [Source: Fabbaloo]

I had a chat with Jabil about their PK 5000 material.

Jabil is one of the most well-known contract manufacturers on the planet, and they use a great deal of 3D printing. So much so that they have their own materials. One of them is PK 5000 powder, used in SLS systems.

PK 5000 is based on PolyKetone, an unusual material in the 3D print space. It has an unusual production side effect, as Jabil explains:

“Our engineered powder, which is based on PolyKetone, is an eco-friendly and non-toxic polymer made from carbon monoxide and olefins. The ability to leverage carbon monoxide, which is a leading cause of atmospheric pollution, reduces its overall carbon footprint.”

The Jabil representative explained to us that they developed the material because alternatives were either too expensive, or were somehow compromised on one or more engineering properties. PK 5000 apparently resolves those challenges by providing a good mix of properties, but at a lower price point.

For example, it is chemically resistant, and at the same time provides high thermal properties. This makes it ideal for niche applications such as fuel tanks.

Safety helmet 3D printed using Jabil’s PK 5000 powder [Source: Fabbaloo]

They’ve also used this material to produce safety equipment, such as this helmet.

What do they expect? They’re hoping customers will try the material and “like it”, the classic business strategy.

The combination of properties and cost should unlock more customer segments that would otherwise have not considered 3D printing as a solution for their applications, or at least that’s the Jabil’s hope.

Part 3D printed using Jabil’s PK 5000 powder [Source: Fabbaloo]

Finally, there’s one personal note about this material: the representative said it “feels different”, and after handling some of the parts, I can say this is actually true. It does feel smoother than other materials I’ve encountered.

Via Jabil

By Kerry Stevenson

Kerry Stevenson, aka "General Fabb" has written over 8,000 stories on 3D printing at Fabbaloo since he launched the venture in 2007, with an intention to promote and grow the incredible technology of 3D printing across the world. So far, it seems to be working!

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