There are several types of 3D printing methods including Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), Digital Light Processing (DLP), Stereolithography (SLA), Print to Mold (Rapid Tooling), Multi-material 3D Printing and many more. Explore our available 3D printing methods, material and components.

Select a sample part and test tribologically optimised 3D printing materials

See for yourself the quality and benefits of our 3D printing materials: Are you interested in 3D printed components, but would like to hold them in your hand before making a final decision? You are welcome to order a free sample from us.

FAQ: Your questions and our answers about the igus 3D printing service and the iglidur materials

Powder printing (laser sintering)

Which 3D printers can process iglidur laser sintering powders?
igus uses the EOS Formiga P110. Fundamentally, laser sintering 3D printers with CO2 lasers should be able to process iglidur i3 and iglidur i6 if the printing parameters can be adjusted. There has already been positive feedback from customers with EOS Formiga P100 and 3D systems equipment. The different laser energy absorption makes it unsuitable for low-cost systems such as Sinterit Lisa and Formlabs Fuse 1. iglidur i8-ESD with its black colour is suitable, and customers have already given positive feedback.

Which iglidur laser sintering material is best suited for gears?
iglidur I3 has the longest service life of all igus 3D printing materials in tests with spur gears. For worm gears, iglidur I6 is better suited due to the sliding relative movement between the counter partners.

igus® Singapore

Supplier & distributor of iglidur® 3D printing filament & provider of industrial 3D printing service in Singapore.

84 Genting Lane
#06-03 Axxel Innovation Centre
Singapore 349584

What are the advantages and disadvantages of surface finishing?
The vibratory finishing minimally removes particles from the surface and can, for example, anticipate the shrinkage of a plain bearing. It is a cost-effective and quick form of after-treatment, but is ineffective in places that the sliding bodies do not reach (e.g. inner edges, channels). The process is only suitable for smaller components with simple geometries.
The chemical smoothing process dissolves the plastic on the surface of the component. After the solvent has evaporated, a dense surface remains, while the untreated component always has a certain porosity, which plays a role in the use of lubricants, adhesives, compressed air as well as vacuum. This surface treatment produces even smoother surfaces than vibratory grinding, but also means a higher surcharge as well as a longer delivery time of the component of 9-12 working days.
Both surface treatments can be configured and ordered directly online in the iglidur Designer in the "Finishing" tab.

Filament printing (FDM/FFF)

Which filament 3D printer does igus recommend?
Due to the large number of systems available on the market, no clear recommendation can be made. Basically, the printer should have a sufficiently large and closed installation space as well as a heated print bed. In addition, a print head with two nozzles, or two independent print heads that can heat up to 300°C, is recommended.
The device should also be freely configurable, i.e. the processing parameters should be adjustable and it should be possible to process filaments from third-party manufacturers. Other useful specifications include interchangeable magnetic plates, network connectivity, direct drive extruder and automatic print bed levelling.
You should be able to process our filaments on most common printers without any problems. We are also happy to send you material samples if you have purchased a printer - you are welcome to contact us.

Can I process igus filaments on my 3D printer?
In most cases, yes, as long as the 3D printer allows the processing of third-party materials. If the printing parameters (speeds, temperatures, etc.) can be set yourself, there is nothing to be said against it.

What material is suitable as a support material for tribofilaments?
Depending on the tribofilament, various soluble filaments, including water-soluble ones, such as PVA, from various third-party suppliers can be used. Filaments such as iglidur i180, i190, and J260 with their higher processing temperatures may require a suitable support material for higher temperatures (Formfutura Helios, for example).
An alternative is "breakaway" support materials, which can be easily removed by hand after 3D printing. For some tribofilaments, such as iglidur i150, PLA is also a suitable support material. It can be removed manually without much effort after printing.
We can make no recommendation for the high-temperature tribofilaments (iglidur RW370, A350, etc.) at the moment.

What filament is best suited for gears?
The best results in the tribofilament service life comparison and for some standard 3D printing filaments are achieved by iglidur i190 and igumid P150. No detailed report is currently available, but one is planned for the future.

What is the chemical resistance of the iglidur 3D printing materials?
The chemical resistance of the tribofilaments and laser sintering materials can be viewed in the searchable lists in the "Technical data" tab on the product pages in the shop or in the iglidur Designer in the materials under "More information".