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3D-printing company Carbon is further expanding the capabilities of its idea-to-production platform with the introduction of EPX 86FR, a flame-retardant photopolymer resin that uses Carbon’s patented dual-cure process. This follows the recent introduction of the M3 Series printers and the general availability of the Carbon Design Engine, a cloud-based lattice design generator that automates the process of creating conformal, multi-zone lattices.

EPX 86FR is a photopolymer resin that combines flame retardance, functional toughness, high strength, and long-term stability. Carbon said it can help reduce development time and tooling costs for end-use parts, functional prototypes, and tools that require flame-retardant and self-extinguishing features, such as housings, brackets, and connectors in the automotive and industrial sectors.

“EPX 86FR was created for critical industries and markets that require a V-0 flame rating, high-performance mechanical properties, and smooth surface quality in a reliable, consistent, and high-throughput printing platform,” said Jason Rolland, Senior Vice President of Materials.

Astoria Pacific, a company that manufactures automated analysis solutions for laboratories, utilizes EPX 86FR to develop heat bath housings for highly regulated electronic devices, among other applications. “We encountered significant supply chain delays in sourcing PVC and sheet metal,” said Whitney Menzel, Senior Engineer at Astoria Pacific. “We turned to Carbon’s platform and extensive material line up, including EPX 86FR, to mitigate these challenges. Not only did we experience a much shorter production time frame using the flame-retardant resin — from 18 weeks through traditional methods to two weeks using Carbon’s platform — but we also saw significant cost savings, enhanced surface finishes, reduced weight, and both thermal and mechanical advantages.”

Key features and applications of EPX 86FR include:

• Suitable for creating end use parts, functional prototypes, and manufacturing tools for consumer, automotive, and industrial applications that require UL 94 V-0 or FAR 25.853(a) ratings with flame-retardant and self-extinguishing features.
• Properties, including functional toughness and temperature stability, are similar to Carbon’s EPX 82 high-strength epoxy-based engineering material, with better accuracy from reduced warpage and higher green strength.
• Like other resins in Carbon’s unique dual-cure resin portfolio, EPX 86FR produces functional and end-use parts with exceptional surface quality, accuracy, and repeatability.
• Target applications of EPX 86FR include electronic device battery housings, fans, circuit board covers, automotive battery cases, brackets, covers, fasteners, cable clips, and connectors.