ÖBB uses 3D printed polyurethane parts to restore trains

The Austrian State Railways (ÖBB) is currently using Chromatic 3D
Materials manufactures polyurethane parts to repair its trains. The parts include industrial-strength PU bellows and grommets, all 3D printed.

ÖBB found it difficult to find obsolete parts to maintain its trains and turned to Chromatic 3D
Materials for help. Within a few weeks, 130 grommets, bellows, cable glands and valve covers were ready. These are created using Chromatic 3D
Printed on Materials’ RX-AM reactive extrusion additive manufacturing platform.

The parts were required to provide a tight seal against air and water in the moving train and were printed using thermoset polyurethane to maximize their durability and flexibility.

Sebastian Otto, head of ÖBB’s additive manufacturing business, said: “We chose Chromatic 3D Materials because of their ability to print 50-90 Shore
A polyurethane of different hardnesses. ”Chromatic 3D Materials stated that 3D printed parts have the same strength and compression set as injection molded parts.