Producer of 3D printing materials. polyspectra has introduced its latest product, Cyclic Olefin Resin (COR) Zero, through a Boot campaign.
With this launch, the company offers consumers a manufacturing quality material that can be used with affordable resin 3D printers. PolySpectra says this material brings industrial-level production capabilities to home workshops and small businesses.
It offers a cost-effective alternative to injection molding for manufacturers, designers and engineers, and is also suitable for applications such as mechanical components, fluidic parts, electronic housings and wearable devices such as eyeglasses and podiatry inserts.
“The chemistry behind COR Zero has been in development for many years, with input and direct validation from Fortune 500 customers, leading aerospace firms and the US Department of Energy (Gamma). “We are tremendously excited to bring this powerful technology to the masses, which we hope will accelerate innovation in hardware and durable goods,” said PolySpectra Founder and CEO Raymond Weitekamp, Ph.D.
COR Zero Material Properties
One of the main challenges in resin-based 3D printing has been overcoming brittleness and thermal instability, which have limited its adoption for end-use manufacturing. PolySpectra’s COR series, including COR Zero, has been specifically designed to address these issues.
Designed for industrial and desktop DLP/LCD 3D printers, COR materials combine toughness, heat resistance and chemical durability, qualities that bring resin printing closer to large-scale production capabilities.
What sets COR Zero apart is its accessibility for home use. With just a few essential pieces of equipment, including a freezer for storage, a microwave for post-curing, and a resin 3D printer, users can create high-quality, durable parts without the need for expensive industrial tools. This combination of ease of use and advanced material performance allows manufacturers to bring professional-grade manufacturing to their shop floors.
COR Zero’s material properties further underscore its potential for functional end-use parts. It offers a tensile strength of 53 MPa, a modulus of 2175 MPa and an elongation at break of 18%, ensuring strong and durable prints.
Its impact resistance is also notable, with an IZOD resistance with notch of 27 J/m and a value without notch of 400 J/m. Additionally, the resin’s glass transition temperature ranges from 125°C to 145°C, allowing it to withstand high temperature applications.
According to polySpectra, these features make COR Zero an ideal choice for those looking to produce durable, reliable parts in-house, eliminating the need to outsource to industrial manufacturers.
To bring COR Zero to market, polySpectra has launched a Kickstarter campaign with a funding goal of $10,000. These funds will be used to source bulk raw materials and begin manufacturing the resin at PolySpectra’s California facility.
If the campaign reaches its $20,000 goal, the company will also offer a black version of the COR Zero, giving backers the option to choose between the standard amber color and the black variant before shipping.
Latest materials in resin 3D printing
PolySpectra’s launch of COR Zero comes at a time when other companies and researchers are also advancing the field of resin 3D printing.
For example, a Dutch manufacturer of 3D printing resins Liqcreate launched Liqcreate Rigid Proto resin adapted for engineering applications. Offering high chemical resistance, strength and heat tolerance, it is ideal for industries such as automotive, oil and gas and electronics.
With heat deflection temperatures reaching up to 109°C after thermal curing, this resin can withstand demanding environments. It works on a variety of 3D printers, enabling rapid production of custom parts and minimizing reliance on large inventories.
Besides, University of Birmingham researchers developed a recyclable resin for 3D printingaddressing a key sustainability challenge in the industry. Traditionally, resins derived from non-renewable petrochemicals are difficult to recycle due to irreversible chemical bonds that form during curing.
Based on lipoic acid, this new resin can be broken down into its original building blocks for reuse. With potential applications in rapid prototyping and various industries, resin offers a more sustainable approach to 3D printing.
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The featured image shows a 3D printed part made from COR Zero. Photo via poliSpectra.