Symbols

The following symbol is in this manual. General Caution: User should use care to avoid possible injury or damage to equipment.

Handling and Use Safety Instructions

 Safety

• Read and understand the container labels, user guide and MSDS (Materials Safety Data Sheet) prior to using StrengthMax™. Adhere to all guidelines for personal protection and safe handling.
• Wear protective clothing, Nitrile gloves and eye protection.
• Apply only in a ventilated hood. Do not inhale vapors.
• Use containers recommended for dispensing and application.
• Have a spill system in place: catch pan, wax paper, or a drop cloth.
• The curing reaction generates heat. Do not mix more than the recommended volume of StrengthMax™.

Features

• The strongest infiltrant available from 3D Systems
• Low viscosity for deep infiltration of parts up to .4 in. (10mm)
• Enhances vibrancy of color parts
• Clear appearance for use with multiple color parts
• Parts are functional
  
  • They can be drilled, tapped, bored and machined
  • Helical inserts can be used to further reinforce tapped holes

Resin Properties

* Smaller weight increases working time
** Depends on part geometry

Prepare the Part

• Place a sheet of non-stick material (freezer or wax paper) on your work area for easy clean-up. Have extra ready to place your part on as it cures.
• Have a supply of paper towels ready to be used to absorb excess StrengthMax™.
• All part surfaces should be clean, dry and free of contaminants prior to applying StrengthMax™.
• For best results, the part should be oven dried for 2-4 hours at 100°F (40°C), depending on part volume and wall thickness, to dry any excess moisture left in the part after depowdering.
• Parts can be sanded prior to infiltration to improve surface finish. Start with 100-grit paper and continue to 220-grit if a smoother finish is desired. Remove all loose material before infiltrating.

Setup - StrengthMax™ Large Bottles

If using the StrengthMax™ large bottles, prepare them as follows: Locate plastic pumps and straws. Attach the long straw to one pump and screw the pump onto the Resin bottle. Tighten the upper cap against the lower cap. Holding the upper cap, unscrew the spout until it springs up into position. Attach the short straw to the other pump and screw the pump onto the Hardener bottle. Tighten the upper cap against the lower cap. Also unscrew its spout. Prime both pumps before measuring your first batch. Place the rubber caps over the pump nozzles between uses to prevent the pumps from drying out. Once the rubber caps are in use do not swap them or you may bond the caps to the nozzles.

Mixing

Apply

StrengthMax™ is best applied using a paint brush.   Apply multiple thin coats to get maximum surface penetration depth.   Do not over-apply. If excess material has pooled on the part, dab it off with paper towels. Drips of excess StrenghtMax™ will harden and cause defects.

Cure

1. Place infiltrated parts on a non-stick surface such as wax paper, freezer paper, or Teflon®. If liquid pools under the part, move the part so it will not adhere to the surface.
2. Allow part to cure at ambient temperature for 2 hours or until the exothermic reaction has completed (meaning the part is no longer sticky). Failure to do so may result in bubbling or uneven color in the part when curing in an oven.
3. Then cure either:

• In oven at 70°C (160°F) for 2 hours.
• At ambient temperature for 24 hours.

4. Wear gloves when handling parts at elevated temperatures. Parts are safe to touch after they have cooled to room temperature.

Clean Up

Keep any remaining mixed materials and soiled paper towels under a ventilated hood until they have cured and cooled to room temperature. They are then safe to dispose of in regular trash.

Machine

Parts infiltrated with StrengthMax can be machined for functionality and part testing. Dry machining is recommended for milling, drilling, tapping, and boring. For best results when drilling and tapping, add a guide hole to the 3D model prior to printing.

The torque that can be safely applied to tapped holes, or to holes with Heli-Coil® screw thread inserts, is shown in the table below.

Paint

When a smooth painted appearance is desired, parts should be primed. Apply a coat of primer as described below. No other surface preparation of the part is needed. Apply DuPont™ Fill 'N Sand® #131S™ Acrylic Primer-Surfacer, or DuPont™ 380S Clear Coat. Brush one coat of the primer or clear coat on the infiltrated part. Once the primer has dried, the part can be painted with your choice of finish coats. The primer and clear coat are available at most auto body supply stores. The best results are obtained when these products are allowed to dry overnight.

Bond

To maintain high strength in the seams, use a structural adhesive to bond the 2 parts together.

• Toughened acrylic adhesive (example: Devcon® Plastic Welder™ II 14340)
• Fast cure epoxy (example: Devcon’s 5-Minute® Epoxy 14270)
• RTV silicone sealant (example: Dow Corning® 736)

When using adhesives, follow the mixing instructions carefully and apply to the surfaces to be bonded. Clamping or taping the parts together may be required with some of these adhesives while letting the assembly cure for the recommended time.

Storage and Shelf Life

StrengthMax™ should always be stored in a cool, dry place as indicated on the label. The shelf life of StrengthMax™ is two (2) years from the date of manufacture.

Compatibility

StrengthMax™ is compatible with:

• All 3D Systems High Performance Composite powders
• zp®14 Investment Casting powder

Quantities Available

Related documents

MSDS/SDS (Materials Safety Data Sheet) for StrengthMax can be found in the Materials section of our Web site: 3dscentral.3dsystems.com

Support Information

If you have any questions about using StrengthMax™, contact your local reseller or you may contact 3D Systems support team directly:

United States (Corporate Headquarters)
3D Systems, Inc.
333 Three D Systems Circle
Rock Hill, SC 29730 USA
Telephone (803) 326-4080
Toll Free (800) 889-2964)
E-mail: Support-us@3DSystems.com

Asia Pacific
+852 8191 2453
FAX: +852 2948 2244
E-Mail: Support-apac@3DSystems.com
Americas
+1 877-889-2677 +1 978-494-8240 Support-us@3DSystems.com

Europe/Middle East/Africa
+49 6151 357245 Support-emea@3DSystems