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► Food-safe in accordance with the requirements of the FDA and/or EU directive 10/2011
► Up to 50 times more abrasion-resistant than commonly used 3D printing plastics: Ideal for moving parts
► No lubrication needed thanks to integrated solid lubricants
► Individual plastic parts ready to ship within 24 hours
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The laser sintering material iglidur i6 complies with the food-specific regulations of the FDA and of EU 10/2011 and can therefore be used in numerous applications in the food and beverage industry. With the SLS process, special parts, prototypes and production series can be manufactured in our 3D printing service in quantities from 1 to 10,000 pieces in as little as three days. Out of all the FDA 3D printing materials that are processed by igus, iglidur i6 is chosen the most frequently. This is due to its great strength, excellent surface properties and low component price.
The components of iglidur i6 not only make this high-performance polymer hygienic but also offers excellent sliding properties. It is therefore often requested for applications in which an low degree of friction is required, for example worm wheels. The laser sintering powder can be purchased in our shop for 3D printing material and processed with all regular laser sintering equipment.
The iglidur i6 laser sintering material, which is food-safe according to FDA and EU 10/2011, is now also available in blue, ensuring the required optical detectability in applications in the food and beverage industry. iglidur i6-BLUE is in no way inferior to the popular iglidur i6 in terms of the familiar strength and good sliding properties. In our 3D printing service, individual special parts made of iglidur i6-BLUE can be produced in quantities from as few as 1 to as many as 10,000 units in five days. The iglidur i6-BLUE laser sintering powder can be purchased in our shop for 3D printing material and used with all common laser sintering equipment.
To automate the height adjustment of the cup tray of a fully automatic coffee machine, a project team from the mechanical engineering school Ansbach developed a sensor and motor-driven mechanism. The parts required - shaft end support and spindle - were produced with selective laser sintering with the tribologically optimised polymer iglidur i6, which had been specifically produced for this purpose. In addition to good operating properties, the high-performance polymer was able to convince the team with its food compliance according to FDA and EU 102011.
iglidur i150 is the easiest to process tribo-filament® - it is suitable for all commercially available 3D printers and can be processed just as easily as regular filaments such as PLA and PETG. Thanks to compliance with EU 10/2011, iglidur i150 is suitable for contact with food and is accordingly proving itself in applications in the food and packaging industry. The only restrictions are in the maximum permanent application temperature of 65°C and for highly dynamic applications. iglidur i150 is also available on 8kg filament reels and is therefore suitable for the manufacture of large components in large-scale printers.
The iglidur i151 tribofilament was specifically developed for the food and packaging industries. The printed parts are compliant with FDA and EU directive 10/2011 food regulations. The standard industry blue colour ensures the required visual detectability, since no natural food is blue. Its good mechanical properties (strength, toughness, layer adhesion) makes iglidur i151 an all-rounder material that is suitable for most applications and 3D printers. It can be processed just as easily as standard PLA and PETG filaments. iglidur i151 has mechanical properties comparable to those of iglidur i150. Like all other tribofilaments, it contains solid lubricants, allowing low-maintenance, hygienic dry operation. iglidur i151's high wear resistance extends the service life of parts printed from it so that it is up to 50 times that of parts made of ABS, PETG, or PLA. Learn what's important for 3D printing with food-grade filament in our blog.
The abrasion-resistant high-temperature tribo-filament® iglidur A350 was specially developed for the food and packaging industry. The raw material is compliant with EU 10/2011 and FDA food-contact regulations and is blue all the way through for reasons of detectability. Printed parts made of iglidur A350 are temperature-resistant up to 180°C, are flame-retardant in accordance with UL94-V0 and can also be sterilised with hot steam. Due to its high processing temperature of 340-360°C as well as a mandatory build chamber temperature of min. 160°C, a high-temperature 3D printer is required for processing. If no such a printer is available for use, wear-resistant parts made of iglidur A350 can be manufactured quickly and cost-effectively in the igus 3D printing service .
iglidur i10, the new laser-sintering powder, allows fast manufacture of chemical-resistant parts that are food-compliant. It is especially well-suited to machinery for the food and electroplating industries. Rapid production with laser sintering means that abrasion-resistant, lubrication-free special parts can be manufactured to drawing within a few days. Since the 3D printing service involves neither tool costs nor minimum order quantities, manufacture of chemical-resistant parts is economical with no minimum quantity (10,000 units maximum).
Knife edge rollers are used as guide rollers in conveyor belts, for example. The new material iglidur A250 was specifically developed for use in knife edge rollers for the food industry and is FDA and EU10/2011 compliant.
The iglidur A181 material is compliant with FDA regulations and also conforms with 10/2011 EU. The blue colour also facilitates the often required 'optical detectability' in the food industry. Plain bearings made of iglidur A181 are available with or without flange.
The tribo-tape liner is designed for the versatile lining of tribologically challenged surfaces and shapes, for optimising movement within machine beds, etc. At a thickness of only 0.5 - 1mm (including the adhesive tape + 0.15mm), very little space is needed. The tape is easily fabricated - simply cut with a pair of scissors - and the optional self-adhesive liner tapes give almost unlimited possibilities. The liner is food-safe in accordance with FDA requirements.
The easy-to-clean TH3 energy chain for cables is FDA-compliant and is blue, which is the typical colour for plastic elements used in the food industry. It is especially resistant to aggressive cleaning agents and chemicals, which makes it ideal for use in the food and beverages industry.
In order to comply with the strict requirements regarding food hygiene and food safety in all stages of a process, igus supplies you with a large range of polymer solutions for food-processing machines and equipment. We supply different kinds of bearings, energy chains, cables, linear guides, lead screw guides as well as bar stock and 3D printing materials for the tool-free manufacture of special parts. As our machine components have been specially developed for moving applications and do not require any lubrication, product contamination is ruled out completely.
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iglidur polymers are more wear-resistant than PLA, ABS and other materials and manufacturing processes
Abrasion-resistant high-performance polymers for industrial use. Wear resistant and long-lasting thanks to integrated solid lubricants. Special polymers for food contact, heat resistance, ESD protection and much more.
What does food grade mean in relation to plastics?
It means that the material coming into contact with food has been tested for a possible transfer of particles of the plastic to the food, whereby a defined limit value has not been exceeded. On the European market, the requirements for plastics to achieve food conformity are regulated by EU Regulation 10/2011, in the U.S. by the FDA (U.S. Food & Drug Administration).
How can you tell if a material is really food safe?
If a material meets the requirements for food conformity according to the EU standard 10/2011 or the specifications of the FDA (U.S. Food & Drug Administration), it is confirmed by a declaration of conformity. The specifications for the use of the respective substance are noted there.
Do you need a special 3D printer to produce food-safe components?
Before and during printing, the food-grade material must be protected from dust. We therefore recommend an enclosed installation space.
Do you need to specifically clean the printer before printing with food grade materials?
Basically, all parts that come into contact with the filament should be free of residues. This applies in particular to the extruder sprocket and the pressure nozzle. In addition, a clean print bed is imperative. The glass plate should be cleaned and the use of either no adhesive or a food grade adhesive is recommended.
What must you pay attention to in the print settings?
The settings should be chosen in the slicing software so that the surface of the object is as dense as possible. Among other things, this is achieved by lowering the printing speed and adapting the line width to the nozzle diameter. This allows unevenness in the component surface and reduces gaps in the cover layers.
Can I also achieve food safety for the component with 2 materials in multi-material printing?
It is not recommended to produce food compliant components in multi-material printing together with other, non-food grade materials, as mixing of the materials cannot be completely ruled out. The support material should either be food grade or the same material should be used as support material.
Can a printed component that complies with food regulations come into permanent contact with food?
If there is prolonged contact between the plastic component and food, this increases the chance of migration of plastic particles. Therefore, it is important to check the food compliance declaration for the maximum permitted contact time. It may vary depending on whether the FDA or EU 10/2011 declaration is considered.
The ambient temperature of the application also plays a role. The higher the temperatures, the shorter the contact should be. Parts made of iglidur i6 are suitable for a maximum 2-hour contact with food at temperatures of up to 70°C (according to EU regulation 10/2011).
Do 3D-printed parts need to be additionally coated with a food-safe coating?
Components printed with food-compatible iglidur materials have a food-safe surface, so that no additional coating is necessary. It applies to the 3D printing materials iglidur i6, iglidur i150, iglidur i151 and iglidur A350.
Are printed machine parts automatically food-safe if food-grade material is used for printing?
No, you only achieve food conformity by combining it with a clean 3D printing process. It is important to use clean print nozzles when 3D printing food-safe components, for example. In addition, either no adhesive (glue) or a food-grade adhesive should be used.
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