Capabilities
3D
Printing
It’s an exciting time for innovative product design: new additive manufacturing technologies let you produce previously impossible design at incredible speeds. Leverage our team’s expertise to take full advantage of digital printing technology for end-use-quality prototypes and bridge runs of 100–10,000 parts. We can optimize your design for Carbon printing, develop custom surface textures, and design lattice structures to take advantage of weight reduction.
First Carbon 3D Global Design Partner
From the very beginning, Sherpa has stayed on the leading edge of additive manufacturing technology. We have built up the expertise that led us to become Carbon’s first global design partner.
What gets us fired up about Carbon’s unique Digital Light Synthesis (DLS) process: the ability to produce even the most complex geometries and textures in end-use quality in-house, 25–100 times faster than standard 3D printers. This speeds up our already efficient product development cycle.
Here’s how it works:
Select Work Examples
Take a look at two of many projects we elevated with Carbon 3D printing technology:
Headset Replacement Parts
With expertise in NX CAD and Carbon 3D printing, we reverse-engineered a headset yoke for durability and set KC Headsets up for small-batch in-house production.
Learn more
Product Innovations and Complex Prototypes
First expanding a premium product line with an XL size, then bringing an innovative lens design to market: our team integrated with Smith Optics to accomplish both on tight schedules.
Learn moreCarbon 3D Printing Materials
EPU 40 – ELASTOMERIC POLYURETHANE
A high-performance polyurethane elastomer, EPU 40 is a good choice for applications that require high elasticity, resilience, and tear resistance.
- Resin: EPU 40
- Ultimate tensile strength: 10.2 MPa
- Elongation at break: 250.0%
- Young’s modulus: n/a
- Shore hardness: 68A
- Impact strength (notched IZOD, ASTM D256): n/a
- Heat deflection temperature (0.455 MPa ASTM D648): TPU
- Comparable materials: Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU)
EPX 82 – EPOXY
EPX 82 is a high-strength engineering material with excellent long-term durability and mechanical properties comparable to lightly glass-filled thermoplastics. Its functional toughness lends itself well to a variety of automotive and industrial applications.
- Resin: EPX 82
- Ultimate tensile strength: 82 MPa
- Elongation at break: 5.9%
- Young’s modulus: 2800 MPa
- Shore hardness: 89D
- Impact strength (notched IZOD, ASTM D256): 44 J/m
- Heat deflection temperature (0.455 MPa ASTM D648): 115° C
- Comparable materials: 20% glass-filled Polybutylene Terephathalate (PBT)
FPU 50 – FLEXIBLE POLYURETHANE
FPU 50 is an impact-, abrasion-, and fatigue-resistant semi-rigid material. Its qualities makes it a solid choice for parts that must withstand repetitive stresses.
- Resin: EPX 81
- Ultimate tensile strength: 88 MPa
- Elongation at break: 5.2%
- Young’s modulus: 3140 MPa
- Shore hardness: 90D
- Impact strength (notched IZOD, ASTM D256): 23 J/m
- Heat deflection temperature (0.455 MPa ASTM D648): 140° C
- Comparable materials: 20% glass-filled Polybutylene Terephathalate (PBT)
MPU 100 (white) – MEDICAL POLYURETHANE
Carbon’s first medical-grade material MPU 100 is designed to accelerate medical product development cycles and elevate product quality. It is a two-component material that produces isotropic parts with fine features.
- Resin: MPU 100
- Ultimate tensile strength: 38 MPa
- Elongation at break: 25%
- Young’s modulus: 1200 MPa
- Shore hardness: 80D
- Impact strength (notched IZOD, ASTM D256): 29 J/m
- Heat deflection temperature (0.455 MPa ASTM D648): 48° C
- Abrasion resistance: 0.013 wear index
RPU 70 – RIGID POLYURETHANE
A tough, moderately heat-resistant material, RPU 70 is excellent for parts requiring a high level of strength.
- Resin: RPU 70
- Ultimate tensile strength: 45 MPa
- Elongation at break: 100.0%
- Young’s modulus: 1900 MPa
- Shore hardness: 80D
- Impact strength (notched IZOD, ASTM D256): 22 J/m
- Heat deflection temperature (0.455 MPa ASTM D648): 70° C
- Comparable materials: ABS or PC ABS
SIL 30 – SILICONE URETHANE ELASTOMER
SIL 30 is a soft, biocompatible, and tear resistant silicone urethane elastomer, ideal for comfortable skin-contact applications.
- Resin: SIL 30
- Ultimate tensile strength: 3.4 MPa
- Elongation at break: 330.0%
- Young’s modulus: n/a
- Shore hardness: 35A
- Impact strength (notched IZOD, ASTM D256): n/a
- Heat deflection temperature (0.455 MPa ASTM D648): n/a
- Comparable materials: Silicone
UMA 90 – URETHANE METHACRYLATE
UMA 90 is a single-cure resin with enhanced toughness, appropriate for use in prototypes as well as manufacturing jigs and fixtures.
- Resin: UMA 90
- Ultimate tensile strength: 46 MPa
- Elongation at break: 17.0%
- Young’s modulus: 2000 MPa
- Shore hardness: 86D
- Impact strength (notched IZOD, ASTM D256): 33 J/m
- Heat deflection temperature (0.455 MPa ASTM D648): 51° C
- Comparable materials: n/a
IND 405 (clear)
LOCTITE® 3D IND 405 is a tough, semi-rigid material with an attractive frosted clear finish.
- Resin: IND 405 (clear)
- Ultimate tensile strength: 42 MPa
- Elongation at break: 120%
- Young’s modulus: 1500 MPa
- Impact strength (notched IZOD, ASTM D256): 50 J/m
- Heat deflection temperature (0.455 MPa ASTM D648): 53° C
- Comparable materials: n/a
Experience What’s Possible with a Carbon Sample Kit
The best way to get a sense of what’s possible with Carbon printed parts is to hold them in your hand. We’ve curated sample kits of flexible elastomers and rigid polymers.