The Top PEEK and ULTEM FDM 3D Printers on the Market

Additive manufacturing users are increasingly looking for technical materials that meet their requirements and constraints. As a result, we have seen the materials market grow exponentially in recent years, with the aim of offering higher-performance solutions. This is true, for example, of the high-performance thermoplastics segment, better known to many as PEEK, PEKK or PEI. Mainly marketed in filament form, they have quite impressive chemical characteristics and mechanical properties, sometimes approaching those of certain metals. But they also involve more complex printing parameters, namely an extrusion temperature of over 350°C, a heated chamber and a printing plate capable of rising to over 100°C. These technical constraints explain the relatively small number of compatible 3D printers on the market. To help you in your search, 3Dnatives has compiled an alphabetical list of FDM 3D printers capable of printing PEEK and ULTEM materials.

AON3D Hylo™ Industrial 3D Printer

Manufactured in North America and purpose-built for high-performance polymers, AON3D’s Hylo™ PEEK & ULTEM™ 3D Printer combines the flexibility and cost advantages of open materials with the ease of use and repeatability commonly associated with fully integrated closed systems. End-to-end hardware automation, integrated in-process monitoring, AI-driven multiphysics process tuning, and the industry’s first real-time defect detection work together to deliver consistent, production-grade parts with minimal operator intervention. With a 650 × 450 × 450 mm build volume and an actively heated 250°C chamber, Hylo™ enables production of full-scale, same-day tooling and end-use parts with exceptional mechanical performance.

BigRep’s ALTRA 280 3D Printer

BigRep’s ALTRA 280 is an industrial FDM printer for high-performance materials with a large print chamber and up to four extruders. The machine features a 500 mm x 700 mm x 800 mm print chamber (print volume of 280 liters ), which enables the production of complex prototypes and end-use parts. The printing chamber and printing table reach temperatures of up to 180°C, enabling the use of high-performance materials such as ULTEM 9085 and PEEK. During printing, the chamber also acts as a hardening system, improving the mechanical properties, functionality and dimensional stability of parts. The 4 DSXs (Direct Synchronized Extruders) are capable of printing at 450°C up to 20 kg in one cycle to provide uninterrupted production with two respective backup extruders. In addition, each DSX features integrated cooling channels and multiple sensors for monitoring and control. The machine is suitable for applications in high-performance industries, such as aerospace, as well as for the production of robust, geometrically complex tooling and functional prototypes.

CreatBot PEEK-300

The Chinese manufacturer CreatBot has developed a 3D printer capable of making parts out of PEEK. It is particularly unique because it integrates a “Direct Annealing System”, i.e. an annealing process during printing in order to give the parts the best possible quality, without deformation or cracking. This technology avoids time-consuming post-processing steps. The CreaBot PEEK-300 is a dual extrusion machine, capable of heating up to 500°C. Its printing plate can heat up to 200 °C while its chamber reaches 120 °C. It offers a printing volume of 300 x 300 x 400 mm in single extrusion (240 x 300 x 400 mm in double). Finally, it is a relatively compact machine that integrates a number of features to facilitate the printing process.

EXT 220 MED 3D Printer From 3D Systems

The EXT 220 MED 3D printer from 3D Systems not only can be used with high-performance polymers, including PEEK, PEKK PPSU, but it is also specifically designed to create medical implants. Currently it is the only platform to boast both an integrated clean room and temperature control, making it suitable even for use in hospitals. The printer has a build volume of Ø 220 x 160 mm and features like a fully controllable build chamber heating, laminar airflow for homogeneous temperature distribution, adaptive local temperature management and optimization for clean rooms, along with ASTM F2026 validation and high-performance polymer compatibility, make it perfect for use in medical settings. Indeed, it has already been used for applications like craniomaxillofacial implants, interbody fusion devices, trauma bone plate trial implants and retractor blades. Its max operating temperature is 500°C for the nozzle, 300°C for the build plate and 250°C for the build chamber.

The F3300 From Stratasys

Photo Credits: Stratasys

FUNMAT PRO 610HT

The FUNMAT PRO 610HT, from industrial FFF 3D printing solution provider INTAMSYS, is ideal for large-format 3D printing (build volume of 610 x 508 x 508mm) of high-performance materials such as PEEK, PEEK-CF, PEEK-GF, PEKK, PEI9085, PEI1010 and PPSU with a 300°C uniform heated chamber and dual nozzles reaching 500°C (allowing the use of support materials). The build chamber has also been optimized with a liquid-cooling system for enhanced dissipation, helping to avoid warpage and other issues for parts with higher mechanical strength.  

The printer boasts superior surface finish for complex geometries thanks to a closed-loop servo control system. Furthermore, it integrates auto-cleaning nozzles as well as filament auto-reloading, jam warnings and absence warnings to ensure seamless continuous printing 24/7. The FUNMAT PRO610HT has a Grade D certification in CE & MD standards, CE (EMC/RED/LVT) certified for industry-grade application standards. Find out more HERE. 

Photo Credits: INTAMSYS

INDUSTRY F421 From 3DGence

The INDUSTRY F421 from 3DGence is one of the company’s industrial 3D printers designed to print high performance polymers such as ULTEM, PEEK and PEKK. According to the manufacturer, this machine guarantees the best quality, dimensional accuracy and reproducible results and impresses with its printing speed of up to 400 mm/s and 1 meter per second. This makes the INDUSTRY F421 a great tool for rapid prototyping. The large print volume of 380 x 380 x 420 mm allows for the printing of large models in one run. The 3D printer also allows printing of high-performance materials that are additionally reinforced to make the resulting final parts even more durable. Each 3DGence INDUSTRY F421 can be equipped with hardware that enables the safe printing of reinforced materials. The INDUSTRY F421’s filtration system also provides extremely good filtration performance, which is not often found in printers powered by FFF technology. The advanced three-stage filtration unit retains macro particles, nanoparticles (VOC, UFP), solvent vapors or harmful gases, enabling user safety and continuity of the technological process.

MAGIC-HT-MAX

Introduced earlier this year, the MAGIC-HT-MAX follows the line of 3D printers offered by the Asian manufacturer IEMAI 3D and is capable of manufacturing high performance parts, the machine uses FDM technology to manufacture with more than 16 different materials (PEEK, PEKK, ULTEM,…). It has a printing volume of 500 x 500 x 700mm and a heated tray that reaches 180°C. In addition, it integrates a liquid cooling system, an end of filament sensor and the ability to recover and resume printing in case of power failure. Despite being an industrial machine, the manufacturer specializes in providing affordable solutions for players in the additive manufacturing industry.

miniFactory Ignite PEEK 3D Printer

With the IGNITE, miniFactory offers an industrial 3D printing solution at a great price for the performance. The company’s clear aim is to offer high-performance technology at the best price and in the best quality. The IGNITE offers a generous build area (600 x 400 x 400 mm) and a large selection of materials. With the IGNITE you can, among other things: ULTEM AM9085F™, PACF, ABS, ASA, PEKK-A, PVDF, PEEK and PEKK. The printer has a heated chamber and an integrated station for drying the filaments. The double extruder also makes it easy to print support structures. The printer is suitable for prototypes, large-format models and end-use parts. To check the quality during the printing process, the printer can be controlled remotely and there is a layer-by-layer check.

Orion AM: A150 Series

Orion AM is a company dedicated to industrial additive manufacturing for advanced applications using aerospace-grade polymers. As such, it should come as no surprise that their A150 Series of 3D printers is compatible with high-temperature, high-performance polymers including PEEK and PEKK. This advanced industrial additive manufacturing system allows for the 3D using Thermal Radiation Heating, a process using thermal radiation in all directions to efficiently heat the printed object up to 300°C, allowing the resulting parts to have superior strength properties. The printing bed has a max temperature of 300°C and the extruder has a max temperature of 500°C. Additionally, thanks to TRH the chamber temperature can reach 315°C while the layer heater temperature goes up to 370°C. The solutions are compatible with PEEK, PAEK, PEKK, PEI, ULTEM1010, ULTEM9085, ABS, PC, PA6, PA12 and PPSF/PPSU.

Photo Credits: Orion AM

Roboze ONE +400 Xtreme

Italian 3D printing manufacturer Roboze specializes in the production of large parts as well as custom batches with its solutions, including the ARGO 500. Introduced in 2017, the maximum extruder temperature for this printer is 550 degrees, with 180 degrees for the build chamber. Manufactured for professional use, the 3D printer has a print bed size of 500 x 500 x 500 mm, in addition to a total weight of 1700 kg. A specific feature of the ARGO 500 is definitely the fully automatically regulated process variables: from the leveling of the build plate to the calibration of the extruder or even the automatic change of the filament: everything is automated and does not require human assistance. Moreover, this 3D printer is equipped with remote maintenance modules that reduce downtime and thus increase productivity.

Spectral 30

The Italian manufacturer of high-performance 3D printers, 3ntr has developed a machine compatible with PEEK, ULTEM and PPS. It is equipped with a powerful electronic system to control the temperature in an optimal way and thus allow the creation of complex parts with high mechanical properties. It has a volume of 300 x 300 x 300 mm, four extruders with a temperature range up to 500°C, a chamber up to 250°C, and comes with a heated compartment for storing high-performance thermoplastics. The build plate can be heated up to 300°C.

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