In the 3D printing industry, silicone is pretty new. However, this is not to do with any lack of demand. Silicone is actually one of the most popular material choices for a huge range of industries and applications.
The reason is that it took some time for silicone 3D printing to become available as it took quite some time to finish the technology needed. This is mainly down to the silicone’s very high viscosity. This meant that the material was too difficult to print into precise shapes.
3D printing silicone is most commonly done using liquid silicone rubber (LSR), this is because of its high stability and temperature range.
Before 3D printing, liquid silicone rubber was already very commonly used in the healthcare industry. However, 3D printing allows for completely new customisation of so many different applications within the industry. It is the same in all the industries in that silicone is commonly used. The new opportunity for the creation of silicone products is huge.
The silicone 3D printing process also allows multiple variations of a design to be printed at the same time making the whole production process far more efficient and streamlined.
In addition, no traditional tooling is required in the production of the material, it is simply all technology meaning that the process can be done far quicker. Another reason for the quick lead times is the fact that models for parts can be speedily transferred into shells that are both printed and moulded. This again would help to speed up the manufacturing process and in turn speed up lead times.
One of the main benefits of silicone that has been manufactured traditionally is its wide temperature range. 3D printed silicone can actually withstand temperatures ranging from -55°C to 200°C. These are temperatures far more extreme than most polymers have the ability to withstand.
Costs have always been somewhat of a disadvantage to silicone rubber, however, 3D printed silicone is actually on the cheaper side of things. This is because there is a reduced tooling cost. The printing process is also precise and reliable, so you have to worry less about wasted material and costly mistakes.
Disadvantages Of 3D Printing Silicone
As with all materials and especially all new technologies, there are some disadvantages that you should be aware of. These disadvantages include:
Accessibility. Only a handful of companies across the UK (including Viking Extrusions) offer this service as the hardware and the materials needed to complete the process are very hard to come across.
In any process where you are using liquid silicone rubber, once it has dried there is no way of returning it back to its original liquid form. This means that you have to be absolutely sure that your project has been planned perfectly. Once the process has been completed there is no way of remoulding, changing, transforming or reusing the material in any way.
In summary, 3D printing silicone is a relatively new technology, for this reason, there are bound to be some disadvantages and accessibility issues. However, as the technology develops over time these disadvantages will begin to be addressed and the advantages will continue to become greater.
