THE SCIENCE BEHIND 3D PRINTING USING MACROTEXTURED FEP FILM
1/3
GLIMMER INERTIA FEP FILM
Check out this great video
The Science Behind NETFIL 3D Printing using Glimmer Inertia FEP Film
NETFIL's Glimmer Inertia FEP Film introduces a macrotextured surface that gets imprinted onto every layer of a 3D-printed composite. This simple but powerful change drastically improves the mechanical performance of resin-printed parts, making them significantly stiffer, stronger, and more durable. To understand why, let’s break it down step by step.
1. How Glimmer Macrotexture Enhances Shear Modulus (G)
In traditional resin 3D printing, layers adhere mostly through chemical bonding. However, the shear strength between layers is relatively weak, leading to poor stress transfer across them. This is why many resin-printed parts break easily along layer lines.
With Glimmer Inertia FEP Film, the macrotextured surface gets imprinted onto each cured layer, creating a physical interlock between layers, similar to how bricks interlock in a wall. This interlocking increases the shear modulus (G) of the printed component, meaning that when a force is applied, the layers resist sliding against each other much more effectively.
Why is this important?
- A higher shear modulus (G) means the part behaves more like a continuous solid, rather than a stack of weakly bonded layers.
- This greatly enhances bending stiffness, because bending relies on layers resisting shear forces efficiently.
2. Understanding Bending Stiffness: EI = E × I
Bending stiffness (EI) is what determines how resistant a part is to bending forces. It is given by:
EI=E×I
Where:
- E is the elastic modulus (stiffness of the material itself).
- I is the moment of inertia, which describes how the material is distributed relative to the bending axis.
If we can increase I, we dramatically increase the part's resistance to bending and improve its resistance to fracture.
3. Moment of Inertia (I): The Secret to Stiffness
The moment of inertia (I) is a mathematical quantity that represents how far the material is from the neutral bending axis. The formula is:
I=∫r2 dAI = \int r^2 \, dAI=∫r2dA
Where:
- r is the distance from the neutral bending axis.
- dA is a small area of the cross-section.
Why is this important?
- Material located farther away from the neutral axis contributes much more to I , because it’s squared in the equation.
- A macrotextured surface on the outermost layers pushes material further from the neutral axis.
- This massively increases I, which increases EI, making the part much stiffer but not necessarlity stronger.
- For strength of the part depends on the amount of porosity within the part or structure.
4. Neutral Bending Axis and Why Macrotexture Matters
When a part bends, some areas experience compression, and others experience tension. The line in between—where there is no stretching or compression—is called the neutral bending axis.
Key insight:
- The farther material is from this axis, the more it contributes to the bending stiffness.
- Glimmer's macrotexture places ridges farther from the neutral axis, increasing the second moment of inertia (I) drastically.
Real-World Impact:
- If you double the distance of some material from the neutral axis, its contribution to I increases four times (because of the r2 factor).
- By embedding macrotextures at the outermost layers, Glimmer effectively multiplies the bending stiffness without needing a stronger resin.
5. Why the Glimmer Film is Transformative for Resin 3D Printing
Traditional Issues with Resin Prints
- Low shear strength between layers → weak bending stiffness.
- Breaks along layer lines due to poor stress transfer.
- Limited mechanical performance for engineering applications.
How Glimmer Fixes This
✅ Macrotexturing locks layers together, dramatically improving shear modulus (G).
✅ Enhanced moment of inertia (I) makes parts much stiffer and resistant to bending.
✅ Better stress distribution means stronger and more durable prints.
✅ Requires no change in resin chemistry, making it easy to adopt.
Final Thoughts: A Paradigm Shift in Resin 3D Printing
The Glimmer Inertia FEP Film is a game-changer because it leverages simple physics to overcome fundamental weaknesses in resin printing. Instead of trying to improve resin chemistry, it improves how layers interact mechanically, unlocking far greater structural performance than conventional prints.
With higher bending stiffness, better durability, and improved structural integrity, resin-printed parts can now be used in more demanding applications, from engineering and aerospace to high-performance dental and biomedical components.
This is not just a small improvement—it’s a revolution in how 3D-printed composites behave.
3D PRINT USING OUR FEP FILM
AND CHECK OUT THE DIFFERENCE YOURSELF
Hours
Open today | 09:00 am – 05:00 pm |
Subscribe
Get 10% off your first purchase when you sign up for our newsletter!
Netfil Clear edge Materials and Solution
This website uses cookies.
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.