SAF
Built for high-volume and short-run production lines.
Enabling accurate, production-grade parts with best-in-class consistency.
Background
SAF technology is the newest 3D printing technology out there. Introduced in 2021, SAF technology empowers a powder-based additive manufacturing process that employs industrial-grade technology to achieve higher levels of production of end-use parts. SAF is the technology behind the H Series™ Production Platform that provides broad capability to control the print process to achieve accurate, consistent production at competitive part costs. The H Series production platform with SAF technology provides the accuracy, repeatability, and process control essential for consistent production and competitive part costs.
SAF’s primary difference involves the process by which the polymer powder is distributed, heated and fused. SAF technology provides a high level of part detail requiring just one High Absorption Fluid. SAF technology’s unique powder management ensures there’s sufficient powder to cover the entire next layer, even when printing large cross-sectional areas, and reduces powder aging. This results in greater thermal stability, which provides better results in the form of part repeatability and material property consistency.
The Process
SAF technology follows the same processing steps as other powder bed fusion printers: CAD files are input to the printer for printing. When parts are finished printing, they are embedded in a “cake” of unused, loose powder. After printing, the cake is removed from the printer and allowed to cool. After cooldown, the cake is broken apart to extract the printed parts. After this process was completed, the parts can then be used or post-processed as needed.
And more in depth, SAF technology uses an infrared-sensitive HAF™(High Absorbing Fluid) to fuse particles of polymer powder together in discreet layers to build parts. It uses Big Wave™ powder management, a proprietary technology that includes powder distribution across a bed, where industrial-grade Piezo-electric print heads jet the fluid in prescribed areas to create each layer of the part. This is followed by exposure to infrared energy, which causes the areas with HAF to melt and fuse together. The sequence is repeated until the parts are completed.
Materials
1. PA (Polyamide 11)
Stratasys High Yield PA11 is a polymer powder used in the volume production of impact-resistant end-use parts. PA11 parts have high-impact resistance and increased fatigue-resistance. High build density can be achieved with PA11 while part consistency is preserved. This material datasheet examines the mechanical and geometric properties accomplished within the same builds. Maintaining the same settings, the H350™ 3D printer’s ability to produce both strong and accurate parts is explored.
Printers
Stratasys H350
Built for high-volume, short-run production, the Stratasys H350 3D printer gives you control of your materials, workflow, production, and costs while delivering consistency and accuracy print after print. The Stratasys H350 is the first release of the H Series™ production platform, which has Selective Absorption Fusion™ SAF™ technology at its heart to deliver functional, production grade parts with best-in-class consistency even on fine feature details, flat areas, and large parts. Using the H350, you will be able to produce parts with a uniform, smooth surface that are suitable for the widest range of applications.
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