SanDraw provides insights into 3D printing of silicones – Interview

Founded in Silicon Valley in 2014 and headquartered in Taiwan the following year, SanDraw has become a significant contributor to the silicone 3D printing industry. The company specialises in Fluid Additive Manufacturing (FAM), a technology patented in 2017, which was developed specifically for RTV (Room Temperature Vulcanising) and LSR (Liquid Silicone Rubber) silicones. In an interview with 3Druck.com, SanDraw shares its expertise and valuable insight into the field of silicone-based 3D printing.

SanDraw offers a range of professional-grade silicone 3D printers, including models S053, S180, S300, and S400. These printers are tailored to different industry needs, enabling the production of high-precision components with mechanical properties that rival traditional manufacturing methods. The company’s systems are used in industries such as robotics, medical devices, electronics, and industrial machinery, where high-performance, flexible materials are essential.

A key feature of FAM technology is the ability to print with medical-grade silicone, offering a range of hardness from Shore A 18 to Shore A 70. This versatility allows for the creation of customised products like robotic grippers, sensors, and industrial seals, ensuring a broad range of applications.

SanDraw’s 3D printers are supported by its proprietary FAMufacture software, optimising the printing process for maximum precision and efficiency. As demand for silicone 3D printing grows, the company remains committed to innovation, continually advancing its technology to meet the evolving needs of various industries.

Interview with SanDraw

In an interview with 3Druck.com, SanDraw discusses the benefits of using silicone in 3D printing, highlighting its flexibility, durability and temperature resistance. They see great potential for silicone 3D printing in industries such as medical and mechanical engineering, particularly for the production of custom components such as medical devices and robotic parts. SanDraw is also focusing on improving printing speed and efficiency, while addressing challenges such as complex designs and post-processing.

In your opinion, what are the key advantages of using silicone as a material in 3D printing?

San Draw’s 100% pure silicone, specially developed for 3D printing, offers superior flexibility, durability, and elasticity compared to standard commercial silicones. It resists yellowing and brittleness over time, making it ideal for producing flexible, impact-resistant objects.

With mechanical properties like mould-grade silicone, it enables seamless transition from prototyping to mass production. San Draw’s silicone outperforms other 3D-printed soft materials, such as TPU and photopolymer resins, in both temperature tolerance (-50°C to 250°C) and long-term performance. Additionally, it supports complex designs using water-soluble support materials, offering greater design freedom.

In which industries do you see the greatest potential for silicone 3D printing and what unique applications could it enable?

San Draw’s technology and equipment demonstrate significant potential in fields such as medical, mechanical engineering, and bioengineering, offering cutting-edge prototyping and R&D capabilities that drive innovation for both academia and industry.

As industries evolve, the demand for mass customisation of complex structures continues to grow. However, silicone 3D printing often faces challenges with liquid material moulding. To address this, San Draw has developed water-soluble support materials specifically for silicone. In 2024, we introduced the latest water-soluble support material, successfully printing lattice structures that meet the complex design requirements of silicone, overcoming previous technical limitations.

In medical applications, the flexibility of silicone 3D printing makes it an ideal choice for producing medical devices. We have printed various models for clinical and research use, including sleep apnea mouth guards and anatomical models of noses, ears, hearts, and brains for medical education and research. These innovations enhance learning and knowledge transfer, while all our silicone products are ISO10993 certified for biocompatibility, making them suitable for medical teaching aids.

In engineering, silicone’s elasticity and durability are perfect for manufacturing critical components like robotic grippers, seals, and sensors, improving operational efficiency and expanding robotic applications. The precision of our printing enhances the ability of robots to perform intricate tasks.

Silicone’s resistance to extreme temperatures also makes it an ideal material for seals and shock absorbers, maintaining stable performance under harsh conditions, reducing failure rates, and extending product lifespan. By combining silicone with advanced 3D printing technology, we can produce custom seals with improved efficiency and accuracy, meeting diverse industry needs.

Additive manufacturing has developed continuously over the last few years. Which innovations or technological breakthroughs do you consider to be particularly important?

In the continuous advancement of additive manufacturing, we are currently focused on enhancing the speed of silicone 3D printing to meet the increasing production demands. The current printing speed affects overall efficiency and hampers large-scale production. Therefore, optimising printing speed is a crucial objective for us.

To achieve this, we are actively adjusting our equipment by optimising motion trajectories, reducing printhead movement distance, and improving movement accuracy to minimise unnecessary pauses and streamline the printing process. Additionally, we are optimising the silicone’s properties, including viscosity, and curing time, to shorten post-processing without compromising print quality, ultimately accelerating production speed.

What challenges need to be overcome to advance the use of silicone in 3D printing in future?

In advancing the application of silicone in 3D printing, we face several key challenges. While we maintain full control over the design and manufacturing of hardware and software, this requires significant investment in resources and time for technical innovation and product upgrades to remain competitive. We are committed to promoting silicone applications to meet the increasingly diverse market demands.

The market for silicone in 3D printing is still relatively small, and the use of liquid silicone is limited, with many perceiving various constraints. To address these challenges, we have introduced water-soluble support materials and enabled the creation of complex structures and hollow objects while simplifying post-processing. Our goal is to lower the barriers to equipment usage.

Lastly, we aim to enhance printing speed and efficiency while maintaining high-quality standards. These efforts will further advance silicone 3D printing technology.

Here you can find more information on SanDraw.