A static dissipative thermoplastic material, ABS-ESD7, has been launched by Stratasys, a producer of additive manufacturing machines for prototyping and producing plastic components. The material is developed for use in additive manufacturing systems and is ideal for parts that are susceptible to electrostatic charge.
Produced from static dissipative thermoplastic, this black assembly aid protects a circuit board from static shock during the assembly process.
The ABS-ESD7 material has been designed to meet the demand from Stratasys’ additive manufacturing system owners. An analysis has revealed that more than 50% of owners require electrostatic dissipative (ESD) materials to create production parts, prototypes and assembly aids.
Static dissipative properties of the ABS-ESD7 make it suitable for applications where an electrostatic charge can impair performance, damage products and trigger an explosion. The ABS-ESD7 eliminates static electricity and thus could not generate a static shock. In addition, the material prevents another static electricity issue by eliminating buildup of powders and dust, which can decrease product performance.
Major applications of the ESD material include production line, conveyor parts, fixtures for electronic component assembly and organizers and carriers for electrical components. The ABS-ESD7 is also used for product design and validation for powder or mist conveying or dispensing, electronic packaging materials and electronic product enclosures.
Stratasys’ static dissipative ABS material can be operated on Fortus 900mc and Fortus 400mc FDM systems.