high-speed [ˈhīˌspēd] adjective — moving, operating, or happening very quickly

But what does high-speed printing mean? Put simply, 3D print speed is the rate at which the printhead moves along the X and Y axes as it puts down a layer of material. Usually defined in millimeters per second (mm/s), 3D print speed can also vary across the build. With the current technologies available today, we’ve validated a new standard. When having a volumetric throughput of at least >8 mm3/sec it’s validated as *High-Speed printing. (> 100mm per second, 0.2mm layer height and 0.4 mm nozzle)

Occasionally, a slower speed is used for the first layer to ensure good adhesion to the build surface and then a faster speed is used for infill where accuracy may matter less. Though a bigger question might be will this high-speed affect the quality of the print?

The answer is no. With Forward AM, there is no need to compromise on quality anymore with our High-Speed Solution. We know that speed alone solves only part of the equation. Our team of experts can help you unlock the full potential of your 3D printing operations and take your business to new heights. Our innovative solutions cover validated materials along with design and process optimization to get your 3D Printed application into your hands in a timely and cost-efficient manner.

With a full high-speed solution you’ll experience…

• Increased productivity with High-Speed Printing
• Instant results with printing High Speed filaments
• Quickly creating needed prototypes
• Opening new possibilities, leading to higher throughput and new business

We offer a variety of high-speed materials to meet all your AM needs. Currently, the following filaments from Forward AM have been validated for high-speed printing:

Standard Line – PLA, PET, ABS, PP, and rPET
Engineering Line – PLA Tough, PLA PRO1, ABS Fusion+, ASA, PA, and PC/ABS FR
Flexible Line – TPU 85A, TPU 64D, and TPU 95A
Reinforced Line – PP GF30, PA6 GF30, and PC GF30

You can find all of our high-speed profiles here: Filaments High-Speed Solutions – BASF FORWARD AM (forward-am.com)

You can be assured that Forward AM’s high-speed (HS) solution covers validated materials, along with design and process optimization to get your 3D printed application into your hands more quickly than ever.

And while we’re contemplating questions, ask yourself why a high-speed solution is both important and beneficial to you? Now let us help to answer that. First of all, less waiting means more printing. You will experience lower production costs, improved profit margins, increased productivity, and reduced lead times.

Furthermore, this ability to be more flexible allows you to meet fluctuating demand as the time between order and delivery is shortened. Inventory management can also be optimized, meaning less stock keeping of parts as they can be quickly fabricated. This all brings a competitive edge, allowing you to be more price-competitive. Now let’s move on to materials…

Ultrafuse® PLA Tough – You don’t need to be an expert to benefit from this high-speed material!

Ultrafuse® PLA Tough: With PLA Tough, you can achieve sustainable, cost- and time-saving production of large components at rapid speeds while maintaining impeccable surface quality. Elevate your designs and projects to PRO levels with a filament that guarantees outstanding performance, reliability, and consistency.

Ultrafuse® PLA Tough is a highly versatile biocompatible and biobased material specially developed for the needs of professional users. It effortlessly accommodates validated high printing speeds up to 300mm/s, without the need for any hardware adjustment while offering an exceptional surface finish and an impressive impact strength. Moreover, it boasts a notably high success rate for large print jobs, ensuring a straightforward and cost-effective printing process.

Check out our latest Use Case on PLA Tough here: Reducing Operational Downtime by Utilizing Ultrafuse® PLA Tough Designed for High-Speed 3D Printing (forward-am.com)

Need even more speed? Our Ultrafuse® PLA PRO1 is the perfect choice. Designed for fast prints, PLA PRO1 allows you to achieve even higher speeds without compromising the aesthetics.

High-Speed Printing with TPUs – Discover our Flexible Ultrafuse® Filaments portfolio

The Ultrafuse^® Flexible Filaments portfolio by Forward AM comprises state-of-the-art BASF flexible materials such as Elastollan^® for the most demanding industrial applications. High-speed printing profiles are available for TPU 85A, TPU 95A and food contact safe TPU 64D. These innovative materials offer a wide range of properties which include high structural strength plus remarkable flexibility, rebound and excellent abrasion resistance. This makes Ultrafuse^® Flexible Filaments the ideal choice when long-term component flexibility is required even below freezing point.

Meet our Technology Partners for Filament High-Speed Printing

Forward AM and Xioneer

In the past, printing speeds for desktop class 3D printers never truly surpassed the 80 mm/s mark. Forward AM, the leading material supplier and Xioneer joined forces to bring high-speed-printing with their materials to desktop printers. Utilizing the VXL 90 and the Raise3D Pro3 Hyper FFF™ system, several model-support combinations were validated for printing speeds up to 300 mm/s at a flow rate of up to ~ 21 mm³/s, which is 4 times the throughput of previous 3D printing systems.

Xioneer offers soluble support materials for miraculous 3D prints. Their unique support material VXL 90 prints effortlessly, adhere to most model materials, and dissolve quickly. It is compatible with Forward AM materials and VXL support material has excellent adhesion to most thermoplastics. It bonds to PETG, ABS, TPU, PC, PA, and many other 3D printing materials like a strong glue. You can check compatibility here: Ultrafuse Support Material Compatibility Sheet

And not only does Xioneer offer best-in-class support materials, they also deliver the equipment needed to support your post-processing needs with a support removal station suitable for high-speed prints.

Utilizing soluble supports is paramount to freedom of design for your parts and will streamline your production by reducing manual labor. Take the next step from rapid prototyping to real additive manufacturing by utilizing this latest breakthrough in AM technologies from Xioneer and Forward AM. Read more about this collaboration.

Forward AM and Bambu Lab

Our experts at Forward AM tested our Ultrafuse® filaments successfully on Bambu Lab high-speed printers. AM users can find optimized 3D printing profiles on both our websites, ensuring that customers will experience an easy start with Ultrafuse® filaments on Bambu Lab 3D printers. These machines can print up to 500mm/s. Our high-speed print profiles include 17 different materials which have all been thoroughly tested on Bambu Lab printers at printing speeds of 300mm/s. This speed is based on current validations, as equipment and technology continue to evolve, it is possible that even higher printing speeds may be attainable in the future. Learn more about their high-speed desktop printers here: Bambu Lab A1 mini | Desktop 3D Printer | A1 series

Forward AM and Raise3D

Raise3D helps users to print with top-brand third-party filaments by also offering templates that have been subject to a validation process. Their newly launched Pro3 Series professional dual extruder 3D printers meet the needs of both production and multi-sized rapid prototyping, with high precision and round-the-clock stable operation when the Hyper Speed package is added. You can find more information here: Raise3D Hyper Speed Upgrade Kit

A Collaborative Partner for Your Future

At Forward AM, our purpose is to provide 3D printing solutions across the entire Additive Manufacturing value chain. From consultancy and development and innovative design, through digital simulation and prototype printing, to finishing and exhaustive component testing – our AM experts will work to ensure that your project meets your exact needs. Rooted in BASF’s 160-year heritage of excellence, Forward AM is centrally positioned as the only global independent full AM portfolio provider. Whatever material you require for your specific project, we offer the world’s largest selection of 3D printing materials and service solutions.

Learn more about the game-changing world of high-speed printing filaments at Filaments High-Speed Solutions – BASF FORWARD AM (forward-am.com)