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What is SAF 3D printing?

Stratasys SAF technology transforms 3D printing with its innovation, making it easy to create high-quality, durable plastic parts in any quantity. It uses smart powder management and targeted heating for better strength, catering to businesses large and small. Suited to a wide range of industries and applications, SAF offers the scalability, flexibility and responsiveness needed to meet today’s — and tomorrow’s — manufacturing challenges. 

​​How does SAF 3D printing work?  

SAF technology revolutionizes 3D printing by deploying industrial-grade print heads to precisely apply a fusing fluid on a powder bed. Using an infrared lamp to selectively fuse particles layer by layer, the fluid enhances heat absorption of the powder particles to form solid objects. This method supports high-volume production of complex shapes, rendering an efficient and cost-effective way to manufacture end-use parts, without the constraints of traditional manufacturing processes. 

 

Why Choose SAF?

  • Low cost per part:   Scalable workflow and advanced printer design reduces labor, minimizes material consumption and ensures high-volume throughput. 
  • Consistent part production: Best-in-class thermal control with the build process, regardless of nesting density or build variability, produces accurate, high-quality parts with tight tolerances.
  • Complex geometries and high detail: Create parts with greater dimensional complexity and high detail resolution with the unconstrained design freedoms of Stratasys SAF technology.
  • Sustainable and best in class energy efficiency: By design SAF has the lowest energy consumption during printing per print volume and it allows for up to 100% powder use rate which ultimately results in best in industry energy efficiency during printing
  • Streamlined workflow and SAF-specific design features and reporting: Simplified 3D printing processes from design to final production available with Stratasys  GrabCAD Print Pro™ advanced print preparation software and print reports for full job traceability print by print.  
High Def SAF Sensor

SAF is Now Equipped with HighDef Printing

Stratasys SAF HighDef brings 3D printed objects to life with enhanced aesthetics and surface appearance. Experience sharper, clearer prints with an unmatched level of detail available today in area-wide power bed technologies.   

This innovative SAF firmware upgrade enables users of the H350 to achieve the industry-leading narrowest gap clearance within the area-wide powder bed fusion sector. This refers to the smallest possible spacing on surfaces that prevents them from fusing together, thus ensuring precise and tight fits in mechanisms and assemblies. 

Explore the Diverse Industries Harnessing SAF

All Industries

The high production capacity, part consistency and resulting lower cost per part make SAF technology a superior choice for part production in high-mix, higher-volume industries like automotive and general manufacturing.

SAF automotive

Automotive & Transportation

Improves efficiency with lightweight, durable parts; reduces emissions and inventory costs through on-demand manufacturing.

Applications: Sensor housings, HVAC grills, vents, ducts, cup holders, cable clips, covers, wire harnesses, fixtures, jigs

SAF Industrial and packaging machine

Enhances machinery reliability with precise, durable components; streamlines production with rapid prototyping and manufacturing.

Applications: Bearing cages, filter and electronics housings, flanges, caps/lids, hinge covers, impellers, brackets, EOAT, grippers.

SAF Consumer and sports goods

Offers customization and innovation in products; enables rapid market introduction of high-quality, tailored sport and consumer items.

Applications: Sporting equipment, glasses, helmet, clips, saddles, eyewear, consumer electronics

SAF Orthotics

Orthotics

Facilitates production of custom-fit, anatomically precise orthotic devices; improves comfort, support, and accessibility.

Applications: Customized insoles, prosthetics, baby helmet, ankle foot orthotics, splints, etc

SAF Aerospace and drones

Enables lightweight, high-strength component manufacturing; optimizes designs for fuel efficiency and payload capacity in aerospace applications.

Applications: Drones and parts, brackets, wiring holders, small ducting, small seats components

SAF General manufacturing

General Manufacturing

The fine details and repeatability of SAF make it an optimal choice for small machinery parts.

SAF automotive

Applications: Sensor housings, HVAC grills, vents, ducts, cup holders, cable clips, covers, wire harnesses, fixtures, jigs

SAF Industrial and packaging machine

Applications: Bearing cages, filter and electronics housings, flanges, caps/lids, hinge covers, impellers, brackets, EOAT, grippers.

SAF Consumer and sports goods

Applications: Sporting equipment, glasses, helmet, clips, saddles, eyewear, consumer electronics

SAF Orthotics

Applications: Customized insoles, prosthetics, baby helmet, ankle foot orthotics, splints, etc

SAF Aerospace and drones

Applications: Drones and parts, brackets, wiring holders, small ducting, small seats components

Applications

All Applications

Although designed for volume-quantity production, SAF technology’s speed and capacity for intricate details is equally capable of rapid prototyping and tooling applications.

Production Parts

Production Parts

The H350 printer with SAF technology offers a generous build volume that accommodates high-volume production.

H350 SAF Gripper

End-of-Arm Tooling

Reduce the weight and cost of robotic end-of-arm tools by 3D printing them with SAF technology.

Production Parts

The H350 printer with SAF technology offers a generous build volume that accommodates high-volume production.

H350 SAF Gripper

Reduce the weight and cost of robotic end-of-arm tools by 3D printing them with SAF technology.

SAF Technology Printers

The H350 powder-based 3D printer is the current printer system that uses SAF technology. Employing a large print capacity and the ability to choose your file preparation software with no cloud connection requirement, the H350 lets you have complete control over your production.  

H350 Left 3 quarter view hood closed

Production

The H350 printer leverages multiple features to provide benefits over competing powder bed systems. Fewer consumables lowers your operational costs which ultimately reduces the cost per part. The higher nesting density compared to other solutions increases productivity and also helps lower per-part cost. Regardless of application, the H350 takes additive manufacturing to new levels of production.

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H350 Left 3 quarter view hood closed

The H350 printer leverages multiple features to provide benefits over competing powder bed systems. Fewer consumables lowers your operational costs which ultimately reduces the cost per part. The higher nesting density compared to other solutions increases productivity and also helps lower per-part cost. Regardless of application, the H350 takes additive manufacturing to new levels of production.

Materials

All Materials

SAF technology powder-based polymers deliver the material properties needed for volume production of plastic parts including high impact resistance, ductility, low moisture absorption and thermal stability. 

3D printed part in High yield PA11 material

Nylon 11 (PA11)

100% bio-sourced material made from Castor oil. Stratasys High Yield PA11 parts have great mechanical performance and are ideal for applications requiring improved impact and fatigue resistance.

SAF PA12 material

Nylon 12 (PA12)

The most accurate, lowest cost and good all-round mechanical performance making SAF PA12 the most requested and versatile polymer in powder bed fusion.

SAF Polypropylene

Polypropylene (PP)

The SAF PP is the first real polypropylene additive manufacturing solution in PBF: Superior aesthetics, best accuracy, fastest, most cost-effective, for chemically resistant and airtight applications.

3D printed part in High yield PA11 material

100% bio-sourced material made from Castor oil. Stratasys High Yield PA11 parts have great mechanical performance and are ideal for applications requiring improved impact and fatigue resistance.

SAF PA12 material

The most accurate, lowest cost and good all-round mechanical performance making SAF PA12 the most requested and versatile polymer in powder bed fusion.

SAF Polypropylene

The SAF PP is the first real polypropylene additive manufacturing solution in PBF: Superior aesthetics, best accuracy, fastest, most cost-effective, for chemically resistant and airtight applications.

SAF UI

GrabCAD Print Software

Simplify your 3D printing workflow with powerful and intuitive software. 

GrabCAD Print software is what makes Stratasys 3D printers go, providing the features and flexibility to make 3D printing easy and understandable. At its core, GrabCAD Print software removes the friction of going from a CAD model to a physical 3D printed part and speeds up the process. You designed the part, now let GrabCAD Print software do the rest to make it a reality. 

SAF

Stratasys Direct®: Advanced Manufacturing with SAF™​

Stratasys Direct delivers durable plastic parts with exceptional quality and speed. With a fleet of Stratasys’ SAF H350 printers, Stratasys Direct tackles initial prototypes and high-volume production with ease. Take advantage of our expertise, certifications, in-house printing, finishing, assembly, and quality control. ​

Get high-quality parts fast from the original AM pioneers – Stratasys Direct.​

Discover Stratasys training and certification offerings.

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Learn More with Academy

Microsoft 3D printing lab

An Introduction to 3D Printing

Learn what 3D printing is all about in this introductory e-learning module.

h350 right 3 quarter hood closed

Getting Started with the H350

Explore e-learning modules that cover the basics of getting familiar with the H350 printer.

The Stratasys H350

H350 3D Printer Operation

These e-learning modules will help you understand how to use and work with the H350 printer.

Microsoft 3D printing lab

Learn what 3D printing is all about in this introductory e-learning module.

h350 right 3 quarter hood closed

Explore e-learning modules that cover the basics of getting familiar with the H350 printer.

The Stratasys H350

These e-learning modules will help you understand how to use and work with the H350 printer.