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Welcome to Hyrel!
With literally thousands of materials to print on the Hyrel Printer, we have broken down the list of materials into logical groups based on their printing temperature and type of head used to print them.
A quick intro to many of the functions of a Hyrel printer can be found here.
If you are planning on using the heads which photoinitiate crosslinking, make sure you specify the correct wavelength of LED for your material.
A standard material printing data sheet has been created for many of the materials that have been internally tested; you can access this data by clicking here.
Always be sure of what material you are using, and what will be off-gassed.
Our current price list can be found here.
Testimonials
We are happy to share testimonials from the following institutions:
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
- Bioplastics Research Center, University of Massachusetts, Lowell
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
- Tooling Division, AO Smith Water Products Company
Software and Firmware
Our equipment runs our proprietary Repetrel software and firmware. This was not done to be difficult, but because we didn't want to be restricted by the limitations of other printers. This is how we have the ability to adjust things like the Z position and material flow rate during a print. For a more in-depth look, please see the Repetrel page. To download and install, please see the Software page.
Hardware
There are two categories: Printers and Heads (or Accessories).
Printers
As of Jul, 2016, Hyrel Printers are available in two models: Engines and Systems. The larger, faster Model 16A and the smaller, more precise Engine HR should be available in Aug, 2016.
All models use our Repetrel software and any Slicer (Slic3r support provided). Each model comes with a Windows Tablet PC. We operate our print heads via CANbus.
Comparison
The following chart compares and contrasts the various models:
| Designation | Hydra (Freestanding) Floor Models formerly the 16A |
Hydra Bench top Model formerly the 17A |
Benchtop, Enclosed | Desktop, Unenclosed | Desktop, High Precision | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hydra 430 | Hydra 640 | Hydra 645 | Hydra 340 | System 30M | Engine SR | Engine HR | |
| Target Users |
Industrial Manufacturing | Commercial Manufacturing | Laboratory Research | Budget Research | Biological Research | ||
| Image | |||||||
| Placement Mechanism |
Floor Model Gantry Design |
Benchtop Model Gantry Design |
Benchtop Model Knee Design |
Desktop Model Knee Design |
Desktop Model Knee Design | ||
| Exterior Dimensions, XxYxZ (closed) |
48x35x68 in 1200x875x1400 mm |
41x27x28 in 104x69x71mm |
34x16x32 in 565x405x810 mm |
13x21x22 in 330x530x560 |
13x24x22 in 330x600x560 | ||
| Power Requirements |
15A / 110VAC / 60 Hz 8A / 220VAC / 50Hz |
15A / 110VAC / 60 Hz 8A / 220VAC / 50Hz |
10A / 110VAC / 60 Hz 5A / 220VAC / 50Hz |
10A / 110VAC / 60 Hz 5A / 220VAC / 50Hz |
10A / 110VAC / 60 Hz 5A / 220VAC / 50Hz | ||
| Build Volume | 16x12x10 in 400x300x250 mm |
24x16x10 in 600x400x250 mm |
24x16x20 in 600x400x500 mm |
12x16x10 in 300x400x250 mm |
8x8x8 in 200x200x200 mm |
8x8x8 in 200x200x200 mm |
4x4x4 in 100x100x100 mm |
| X/Y Printing Speeds |
Up to 40 mm/sec | Up to 40 mm/sec | Up to 30 mm/sec | Up to 30 mm/sec | Up to 25 mm/sec | ||
| Enclosure | Heated | Heated | Enclosed *Opt Heated |
Unenclosed | Unenclosed | ||
| Motion Control | 3-Phase with Closed-Loop Feedback |
3-Phase with Closed-Loop Feedback |
0.9° Stepping Motor | 0.9° Stepping Motor | 0.9° Stepping Motor | ||
| Positional Resolution X/Y/Z in μm |
6 / 6 / 1 | 6 / 6 / 1 | 5 / 5 / 1 | 5 / 5 / 1 | 1 / 1 / 1 | ||
| Positional Accuracy X/Y/Z in μm |
60 / 60 / 10 | 60 / 60 / 10 | 50 / 50 / 10 | 50 / 50 / 10 | 10 / 10 / 10 | ||
| Positional Repeatability X/Y/Z in μm |
30 / 30 / 5 | 30 / 30 / 5 | 25 / 25 / 5 | 25 / 25 / 5 | 5 / 5 / 5 | ||
| Precise X/Y Output for Bioplots |
100 μm lines 200 μm spacing |
100 μm lines 200 μm spacing |
100 μm lines 200 μm spacing |
100 μm lines 200 μm spacing |
50 μm lines 100 μm spacing | ||
| Precise Z output for Bioplots |
25 μm layers | 25 μm layers | 25 μm layers | 25 μm layers | 25 μm layers | ||
| Tool Positions Optional |
Five Ten |
Five | Four | Four | Four | ||
| Cold Flow Options |
All EMO, COD, SDS, CSD, DSD and SMH Heads | ||||||
| Warm Flow Options |
All VOL, VCD, KRA and KCD Heads | ||||||
| Hot Flow Options |
All MK1 and MK2 Heads | ||||||
| Low Power Laser Options |
5w, 808nm, AlGaAs Diode and/or 6w, 450nm, GaN Diode | ||||||
| High Power Laser Options |
40w ~10 μm, CO2 80w, ~10μm, CO2 |
Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | ||
| Spindle Tool Compatibility |
Standard *High Power in Dev. |
Standard | Standard | Standard | Not Applicable | ||
| Other Options |
Quiet Storm Fan, Microscope | ||||||
The Hydra Series
The Hydra series formerly the Model 16A and 17A has hard resolution (with encoder feedback) of 20 microns in the X and Y, and 0.8 microns in the Z in standard mode. In microstepping mode, we can achieve soft resolution of 4 microns in the X and Y. It comes standard with two tool positions, but can take additional yokes to handle more.
There are four models, as detailed above. The differences are:
- The Hydra 340 sits on a countertop, has a 300x400x250mm build volume, and has no CO2 laser option.
- The Hydra 430 stands on the floor, has a 400x300x250mm build volume, and has 40w and 80w CO2 laser options.
- The Hydra 640 stands on the floor, has a 600x400x250mm build volume, and has 40w and 80w CO2 laser options.
- The Hydra 645 stands on the floor, has a 400x400x500mm build volume, and has 40w and 80w CO2 laser options.
The System 30M, 30, and 23
Systems are enclosed Detailed information is on the Systems page. The System 30M replaced the System 30, which replaced the System 23. For you history buffs and Kickstarters.
The Engines
Engines are open-air models. Engines can take up to four heads at once, either working cooperatively on a one print, or making duplicate copies of a small print at the same time. Build volume is 200mm x 200mm x 200mm (X/Y/Z). Detailed information is on the Engines page.
Print Heads
The Cold Flow Process
Cold Flow is our term for fluid or emulsified (non-filament-based) materials which are deposited at room temperature, with or without UV Crosslinking.
For more details, see the Cold and Warm Flow page.
Materials for Cold Flow
The following materials can be printed from Cold Flow heads. Note that more viscous materials may not be suitable for plastic syringes or smaller luer tips.
- 3P Quick Cure Clay
- Adhesives
- Clay, Generic
- Epoxy, Two-part
- Fimo
- Glue
- Kato
- Metal Clay, including Precious Metal Clay (PMC)
- Modeling Clay
- PEG PolyEthylene Glycol
- Porcelain
- Plasticine
- Play-Doh
- Resins
- RTV Silicone
- Sculpey
- Sugru
Heads for Cold Flow
Cold Flow is available through the following heads:
EMO-25
COD-25
SDS-5, SDS-10,
SDS-30, SDS-60
CSD-5, CSD-10,
CSD-30, CSD-60
The following table compares the properties of the various Cold Flow heads:
| Head | Container | Capacity | Nozzle | UV Crosslinking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EMO-25 | Aluminum | 25cc | 1.5mm, 2.0mm, Luer | No |
| COD-25 | Aluminum | 25cc | Luer | Yes |
| SDS-5 | Syringe | 05cc | Luer | No |
| CSD-5 | Syringe | 05cc | Luer | Yes |
| SDS-10 | Syringe | 10cc | Luer | No |
| CSD-10 | Syringe | 10cc | Luer | Yes |
| SDS-30 | Syringe | 30cc | Luer | No |
| CSD-30 | Syringe | 30cc | Luer | Yes |
| SDS-60 | Syringe | 60cc | Luer | No |
| CSD-60 | Syringe | 60cc | Luer | Yes |
Research Papers Citing Hyrel Cold Flow
- A Novel Approach to Integrating 3D/4D Printing and Stretchable Conductive Adhesive Technologies for High Frequency Packaging Applications
- Additive Manufacturing of Planar Inductor for Power Electronics Applications
- Bioactive Nanoengineered Hydrogels for Bone Tissue Engineering: A Growth-Factor-Free Approach in The American Chemical Society's ACS Nano
- Design and Fabrication of 3D Printed Scaffolds with a Mechanical Strength Comparable to Cortical Bone to Repair Large Bone Defects in Nature.com's Scientific Reports
- Emulsion Inks for 3D Printing of High Porosity Materials in the Macromolecular Journals
The Warm Flow Process
Warm Flow is our term for fluid or emulsified (non-filament-based) materials which are deposited at up to 150°C, with or without UV Crosslinking, depending on the head.
PCL and other medium temperature material can be printed directly from Pellets the size of small peas. If you pulverize or powder your polymer, it is possible to pre-mix the material dry and test different alloys of plastics.
For more details, see the Cold and Warm Flow page.
Materials for Warm Flow
The following materials can be printed from Warm Flow heads. Note that more viscous materials may not be suitable for plastic syringes or smaller luer tips, or may print more easily at higher temperatures.
- Adhesives
- Fimo
- Kato
- Glue
- PCL
- Plasticine
- Resins
- Sculpey
- Wax
Heads for Warm Flow
Warm Flow is available through the following heads:
VOL-25
VCD-25
KRA-15
KCD-15
The following table compares the properties of the various Warm Flow heads:
| Head | Max Temp | Container | Capacity | Nozzle | UV Crosslinking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VOL-25 | 100°C | Aluminum | 25cc | 1.5mm, 2.0mm, Luer | No |
| VCD-25 | 100°C | Aluminum | 25cc | Luer | Yes |
| KRA-15 | 150°C | Stainless | 15cc | 1.5mm, 2mm, Luer | No |
| KCD-15 | 150°C | Stainless | 15cc | Luer | Yes |
The Hot Flow Process
Hot Flow is our term for filament-based materials which are deposited at up to 450°C, depending on the head. This process has also been referred to as FFF for Fused Filament Fabrication, or FDM for Fused Deposition Modeling. As of November, 2016, our Hot Flow heads are only for 1.75mm filaments.
For more details, see the Hot Flow page.
Materials for Hot Flow
The following materials can be printed from Hot Flow heads. Note that depending on the characteristics of your material, one head will be a better match than the others. See the "Recommended For" column in the table below.
- ABS, Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene
- BendLay
- FilaFlex
- Flex45
- LayBrick
- LayWood
- NinjaFlex
- Nylon
- PC, PolyCarbonate
- PEEK, PolyEther Ether Ketone
- PET, PolyEthylene Terephthalate
- PETG, PolyEthylene Terephthalate Glycol-modified
- PLA, PolyLactic Acid
- PlastInk Rubber
- PP, PolyPropylene
- PVA, PolyVinyl Alcohol
- T-Glase
Heads for Hot Flow
Hot Flow is available through the following heads:
The following table compares the properties of the various Hot Flow heads, including which heads are recommended for which materials. The MK1 heads drive matieral from one side, with a spring-loaded bearing system to maintain pressure and positioning. The MK2 heads drive the material from both sides, and are designed for more flexible filaments.
| Head | Min Temp | Max Temp | Filament Type | Nozzle | Recommended For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MK1-250 | 150°C | 250°C | Standard | .35mm, .50mm, .75mm, 1.0mm | ABS, LayBrick, LayWood, Nylon, PET, PETG, PETT, PLA, PP, PVA, T-Glase |
| MK2-250 | 150°C | 250°C | Flexible | .35mm, .50mm, .75mm, 1.0mm | BendLay, FilaFlex, Flex45, NinjaFlex, PlastInk Rubber |
| MK1-450 | 300°C | 450°C | Engineering | .50mm | PC, PEEK |
Research Papers Citing Hyrel Hot Flow
- Button-Shaped RFID Tag Combining Three-Dimensional and Inkjet Printing Technologies, The IET Digital Library.
- Demonstration and Characterization of Fully 3D-printed RF Structures, The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Incorporated (IEEE)
- Infill Dependent 3D-Printed Material Based on NinjaFlex Filament for Antenna Applications, The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Incorporated (IEEE)
- A Novel Strain Sensor Based on 3D Printing Technology and 3D Antenna Design, The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Incorporated (IEEE)
- A Novel 3-D Printed Loop Antenna Using Flexible NinjaFlex Material for Wearable and IoT Applications, The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Incorporated (IEEE)
- RF Characterization of 3D Printed Flexible Materials - NinjaFlex Filaments, The European Microwave Association (EuMA)
- Nano-Material Based Flexible Radio Frequency Sensors for Wearable Health and Environment Monitoring: Designs and Prototypes Utilizing 3D/Inkjet Printing Technologies, A Dissertation Presented to The Academic Faculty of The School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Georgia Tech
Other Accessories
Accessories other than print heads are available, some of which take a tool position.
For more details, see the Other Accessories page.
Tool Position Accessories
Lasers
Hot-swappable Lasers are available in the following configurations:
- The LA5-808 is 5W at 808nm, and due to its wavelength, it is best suited for darker material.
- The LA6-450 is 6W at 450nm, and performs well on opaque material of any color.
The Reflectivity and Transparency or Translucency of your material will have a great impact on the effectiveness of the laser. Safety glasses are included with each laser.
Spindle Tools
ST1
Intended for light drilling and routing operations (especially circuit board work), the ST1 provides between 500 and 5000 RMP (depending on load) to a 1/8" chuck. Our Repetrel software can process Gerber and DRL files for the Spindle Tool and/or the Lasers.
Other Tool Position Accessories
The following accessories each take up a tool position while performing more passive functions:
- The Inspector microscope provides magnification.
- The Quiet Storm fan provides additional cooling.
- The Tramming Tool, provided with every printer, is used to level the build surface.
Non-Tool Position Accessories
The following non-head accessories are also available:
- The Feed Chamber Cooling Fan mounts on Hot Flow heads to provide additional cooling to the feed chamber. This is desirable with low temperature filaments like PLA.
- The Printer Support Kit is included with every printer, and includes a build plate, blue tape, and a variety of handy tools like tweezers, razors, and a spatula.
- The SDK | Software Developer's Kit provides hardware, software, and the source code for developing your own firmware for your own compatible heads.
- The LTK | Luer Tip Kit provides an EMO to Luer adapter and a variety of luer lock needles.
- The Syringe Kit provides syringes in quantity.
- The Drill Bit Kit provides an assortment of drilling bits and end mills for the Spindle Tool.
- The Filament Kit provides a variety of filaments to get you started with your printer.