Head of service operations
jenna.puska@vamk.fi
+358 50 4724 330
3D Printing Services
Additive Manufacturing
Better known as 3D printing, this is a relatively old manufacturing method, but its industrial use has only become widespread in recent years, mainly because the cost of metal printing has become more competitive.
We specialize in printing exceptionally strong continuous fiber composites. The latest additions to Technobothnia include a powder bed metal printer from Prima Additive and a Formlabs SLS plastic printer.
Advantages of Additive Manufacturing:
In additive manufacturing, a component is created layer by layer by adding material onto a base. This method offers numerous advantages compared to more traditional manufacturing techniques. For instance, when 3D printing, the shape of the component imposes few limitations, allowing products to be designed with functionality as the primary focus from the start. This enables the creation of components optimized for topology, where material is used only where it is truly needed. As a result, material waste is minimal, and higher-cost materials can be used efficiently and cost-effectively. For example, titanium and specialty plastics suddenly become competitive, even in direct price comparisons.
We offer:
Plastic prints at Technobothnia are produced using high-quality Ultimaker printers. The printers come in various sizes, with the largest capable of printing components up to 330 x 240 x 300 mm (XYZ). We use premium filaments from BASF and Polymaker as materials.
At Technobothnia, the plastic printers primarily operate using extrusion technology. In this method, the material is fed from a spool as a filament, melted, and extruded through a nozzle layer by layer to create the final product. This technique enables the production of affordable and reasonably strong components from cost-effective materials, quickly and easily.
However, the surface quality of extruded prints is not comparable to parts made with more expensive methods such as SLS. Additionally, extruded prints are highly anisotropic, which must be considered when designing components and selecting their print orientation.
Materials Available in Stock
Model Materials:
BASF Ultrafuse PLA (various colors):
- PLA is a biodegradable, non-toxic printing material made from renewable raw materials.
- TDS Innofil3D PLA Datasheet.pdf
BASF Ultrafuse PRO1 (Tough PLA):
- An advanced PLA-based material with superior mechanical properties.
- TDS Innofil3D PRO1 Datasheet.pdf
BASF Ultrafuse ABS:
- A slightly flexible, impact-resistant plastic. ABS can withstand higher temperatures than PLA.
- TDS Innofil3D ABS Datasheet.pdf
Polymaker CoPa:
- A nylon-based printing material with excellent mechanical properties
- Glass transition temperature up to +180 °C
- PolyMide CoPA Datasheet.pdf
Support Materials:
With FDM technology, printing in “mid-air” is possible but very limited, requiring additional support materials for more complex structures. The best and easiest-to-use support material we have found is BASF’s water-soluble BVOH material (BVOH = Butenediol Vinyl Alcohol Co-polymer), which is removed by soaking in water, eliminating the need for mechanical processing.
BASF BVOH
- Water-soluble support material.
- Ultrafuse BVOH TDS Datasheet.pdf
In addition to stock materials, the laboratory continually maintains a miscellaneous selection of specialty materials, including wood fiber, fiber-reinforced, elastic, and ESD-rated filaments. We regularly test new materials and can procure almost any filament upon request for custom projects.
Industrial-Grade Plastic Printing is Now Primarily Done Using SLS Technology (alongside continuous fiber printing)
In this method, the printing material is fine powder that is solidified layer by layer with a laser to create the final product. This method provides better surface quality, finer details, and generally stronger and more uniform prints compared to extrusion-based parts.
SLS-printed parts are nearly isotropic, meaning their strength values are almost the same regardless of the load direction or print orientation. Additionally, the SLS method makes it easier to print functional mechanisms (such as hinges) as a single piece, precise details, and to utilize flexible materials. The SLS method does not require separate support structures (the powder bed itself serves as support), which allows for printing very complex structures without significant additional costs for post-processing.
SLS prints at Technobothnia are made using Sinterit Lisa PRO printers. The print area varies slightly depending on the material and is at most 150 x 200 x 260 mm. We use Sinterit’s proprietary powders as materials.
Sinterit PA12 Smooth (black) provides good surface quality and mechanical properties. It is suitable for applications requiring high heat resistance.
PA12 Datasheet.pdf
Sinterit Flexa (black) is a flexible material with good surface quality and precise printing. Its flexibility can be adjusted between 80–90 ShoreA.
Flexa Black Datasheet.pdf
Expertise in Continuous Fiber Composite Printing
We specialize in printing continuous fiber composites. In this method, continuous fibers such as carbon, glass, or Kevlar are added to a nylon-based material during printing, significantly enhancing the strength of the part compared to using chopped fibers or no fibers at all. Continuous fibers can only be added layer by layer, which emphasizes anisotropy. This makes the skill and experience of the operator particularly important.
Technobothnia has been producing continuous fiber composites for customers since 2015. Composite printing can be done with either chopped or continuous fibers. Chopped fibers are simpler and more cost-effective, while continuous fibers provide significantly higher strength.
Technobothnia operates two Markforged MarkTwo printers, capable of printing on an area of 320 x 132 x 154 mm (XYZ). The base material used is Onyx, a nylon-based material containing chopped carbon fiber, known for its excellent mechanical properties. Continuous fibers are added to the Onyx matrix during printing, which significantly increases the part’s strength and stiffness. Available fibers include carbon, Kevlar, and glass.
For more information or inquiries about continuous fiber composite printing, contact osku.hirvonen(at)vamk.fi.
We have decades of experience in machine design, particularly in 3D design.
When designing parts for additive manufacturing, the production method must be taken into account in many ways. To some extent, the method dictates certain structures, but the specific characteristics of additive manufacturing must be carefully considered in the design to fully leverage its advantages.
Topology optimization is a significant approach to enhance parts designed for 3D printing. We can assist you in the 3D design of components or even handle the design process entirely on your behalf.
Contact us:
osku.hirvonen(at)vamk.fi
Are you interested in 3D printing but only have a surface-level understanding and are unsure how to proceed?
We have experience in:
Equipment procurement
Subcontracting
Part design
Contact us, and together we can explore how additive manufacturing can enhance your production and/or products.
For more information:
osku.hirvonen(at)vamk.fi
Choose the Training Package That Suits You
We regularly train our students in the field of additive manufacturing. We offer ready-made training packages of varying scope (from a few hours to comprehensive 10-credit courses), starting from the basics and progressing to advanced design training. If needed, we can also customize the training to meet your specific requirements.
Trainings can be conducted at our Technobothnia facilities, remotely online, or at your premises. If your training requires printing sample parts, the Technobothnia laboratory and its printers are at your disposal.
For more information:
osku.hirvonen(at)vamk.fi
Contact
Jenna Puska
Osku Hirvonen
Lecturer in technology
osku.hirvonen@vamk.fi
+358 207 663 336