Costs for wear-resistant parts reduced fifteenfold when they are 3D printed from high-performance polymers

Profile

• What was needed: 3D-printed slider made of iglidur i180
• Requirements: The machine is constantly used in wet environments with dirt and sand, so the sliders must be resistant to wear and temperature changes
• Industry: Agricultural machine construction
• Success from the collaboration: 15 times cheaper than metal sliders and fast delivery for frequently required replacement parts

Problem

Mass Portal, a Riga-based company, manufactures innovative 3D printed solutions for various areas of application. This project involved the search for a solution to reduce maintenance costs for floating mowing machines. Mowing machines clear lakeshores of fast-growing grasses so that they can be used for swimming and water sport. 
The cutting blades on the bow of the floating mowing machine are tensioned and guided with special metal sliders. Because the machines are constantly used in wet environments with a great deal of dirt and sand, the metallic sliders that have been used so far wear quickly and must be replaced up to three times each season. This necessitates greater maintenance effort, and replacement parts cost about $180.

Solution

Sliders that are printed in 3D with iglidur i180 ensure the necessary robustness and lubrication-free operation, even in wet environments and given intensive bow cutter use. The sliders can be manufactured quickly with a 3D printer so that replacement parts for individual customers can be delivered in just a few days. It was possible to reduce the cost of replacement parts by a factor of 15 thanks to 3D printing.
The tribofilament iglidur i180 is also up to 50 times more abrasion-resistant than conventional 3D printing materials. The incorporated solid lubricants mean that components made of iglidur i180 need no additional lubrication. The abrasion resistance and the optimum sliding properties enable components made of this 3D printing plastic to achieve an especially long service life and give them great versatility in use. The filament can be processed on any 3D printer that has a heated print bed and adjustable temperature.

The cutting blades were originally tensioned and guided with special metal sliders. However, the company now produces its own spare parts from the igus high-performance plastic iglidur i180.