Headquartered in Shanghai, INTAMSYS (INTelligent Additive Manufacturing SYStems) is one of the leading companies providing high-performance AM equipment, consumables, and software. It was founded by a team of experienced engineers who had conducted a great deal of research to be fully versed in high-tech equipment. The manufacturer has managed to establish a complete system of marketing and after-sales service that covers both Europe and the United States. INTAMSYS focuses on electronic manufacturing, aerospace, consumer products, automotive, scientific research, medical, and other industries, engaging in a variety of production activities — from functional prototyping to customized serial production.
INTAMSYS’ hallmark is FDM technology for printing with engineering and high-performance filaments. These materials allow replacing plenty of plastic and metal milling and injection molded workpieces with 3D printer parts. According to Bart Leferink, VP at INTAMSYS, “FFF printing has an advantage over other additive manufacturing techniques because with the extrusion of the material we only form the product, the intrinsic properties of the plastic remain largely intact, in contrast to for instance, powder bed-based techniques. These engineering plastics meet the demands of the manufacturing industry in 80 percent of the cases.” Speaking of materials that do not require particularly high temperatures (for instance, PC, ABS, carbon-filled nylon can theoretically be printed in 180 °C or above), these filaments are still much more accurate and easier to process at high-temperature systems.
Other advantages of INTAMSYS’ strategy include an open platform and certification. Thus, users are free to choose their own consumables certified by the manufacturer and material providers to ensure optimal parameter settings. Material Data Sheets provide customers with all the information about the consumables, including chemical composition, etc. Also, users get access to all the data during the printing process to use it for qualifying and certification purposes.
INTAMSYS offers a complete lineup of FDM printers for industrial applications using engineering high-performance polymers, from PEEK to ABS. With all these products, users can customize temperature settings for process optimization. “Developing a high temperature 3D printer requires more than heating the build room. All components must continue to function properly in that high temperature environment,” says Bart Leferink.
The Funmat HT is an entry-level industrial 3D printer that was designed from scratch to 3D print in high-temperature materials. The model is equipped with a single extruder capable of heating up to 450 °C, as well as a build plate with a maximum temperature of 160 °C and a heated build chamber. Other elements like motors are also designed to function properly under high temperatures. The device can print in both high-performance and regular plastics. The Pro 410 and Pro 610 HT models are based on the same principles but boast larger sizes for customers to be able to scale up their production.
The Funmat Pro 610 HT is the newest iteration in the line. The system appears to be by all means superior to its high-temperature alternatives available on the current market — in terms of productivity features, build volume, temperature, and certified materials. The machine can hold four auto-changed filament spools, which allows it to print continuously. Like the Pro 410, the model sports a dual nozzle system for multi-material and multi-color printing, as well as building the supports.
