3DXTech SimuBone Simulated-Bone PLA — Antibacterial, Radio-Opaque, USA-Made
Simulated-Bone PLA — Antibacterial, Radio-Opaque, USA-Made
A specialty PLA engineered to print realistic bone models for clinical and educational use. SimuBone gives printed parts the look, feel, and heft of real bone — and it saws, drills, and holds a screw like bone too. A radio-opaque additive makes models visible on X-ray and CT, and an FDA-approved nano-silver additive earns an ISO 22196:2011 antibacterial certification. Made in the USA. Full specifications →
Availability and lead time vary by diameter — contact Rev1 to confirm before ordering, or call (248) 707-2950 for bulk and education pricing.
Medical-grade bone modeling, with a real datasheet behind it.
3DXTech compounds SimuBone in Grand Rapids, Michigan in an ISO 13485-compliant facility, with a published TDS and an ISO 22196:2011 antibacterial certification — not a mystery filament. Rev1 Technologies is your authorized 3DXTech reseller and US support partner, Auburn Hills, Michigan.
Print bone models that look, feel, and machine like the real thing.
SimuBone starts with an easy-to-print PLA and layers in specialty additives that give a finished part the color, density, and tactile response of real bone. Surgeons rehearse on it, students learn from it, and labs use it as a low-cost stand-in for cadaver bone in preoperative planning. It prints on practically any FDM printer, mates with 3DXTech support material for complex dual-extruder geometry, and comes off the plate in a natural bone-white finish — no painting, no post-processing. SimuBone is made for education and preoperative planning; it is not intended or suitable for implantation.
From a knee joint to a full skull — in one bone-white print.
Complex, patient-specific anatomy without the cost of a cadaver.
Because SimuBone reproduces the look and feel of bone, a printed model reads as anatomy the moment it comes off the bed — useful for teaching, patient consultation, and hands-on rehearsal of a procedure. It handles fine, intricate geometry (thin processes, teeth, trabecular structure) and larger educational pieces alike, so a single spool covers everything from an orthopedic joint to a museum-scale skull.
Engineered for the way clinicians actually use a bone model.
Standard PLA looks like plastic and cuts like plastic. SimuBone is formulated around the tasks a surgical or teaching model has to survive — sawing, drilling, screwing, imaging, and repeated handling.
An FDA-approved nano-silver additive eliminates 99.9% of bacteria for the lifetime of the printed part — ISO 22196:2011 certified.
A radio-opaque additive lets printed models show up on X-ray and CT scans, so imaging-based planning and training work on the model just like the patient.
Formulated for ideal sawing, drilling, and screw retention — hardware seats and holds the way it would in real bone during a rehearsal.
A density and stiffness tuned to feel like cortical bone in the hand, not like a hollow plastic print.
Based on easy-to-print PLA — 220–240°C, no heated chamber, no exotic hardware. If your printer runs PLA, it runs SimuBone.
Produced in 3DXTech's ISO 13485-compliant Michigan facility with lot traceability — documented, repeatable material.
Models that read on X-ray and CT, not just on the bench.
A bone model is far more useful when it behaves like bone under imaging. SimuBone's radio-opaque additive gives printed parts genuine contrast on radiographs and CT.
Plan and rehearse against the same imaging you use in theatre.
X-ray and CT contrast built into the material.
Because SimuBone shows up on X-ray and CT, a printed model can be scanned, measured, and used to validate imaging workflows, fluoroscopy setups, and intra-operative navigation — not just eyeballed on a table. For preoperative planning that leans on radiology, that contrast is the difference between a display piece and a working surgical rehearsal model.
Surgical planning, training, and anatomical education.
Rehearse the real procedure on a model that cuts like bone.
From a patient CT to an orthopedic model you can operate on.
Print a patient-specific joint or fracture from a CT scan, then saw, drill, and place hardware on it before the real case — SimuBone's screw retention and machinability make that rehearsal meaningful. It is equally at home in the anatomy lab and the classroom as a repeatable, low-cost alternative to cadaver bone for medical, dental, and veterinary teaching.
As easy to run as ordinary PLA.
SimuBone ships in a single natural Bone White, on 1.75 mm and 2.85 mm, in 750 g reels — a size that also fits popular automated material systems. These are 3DXTech's recommended settings; no heated chamber and no special hardware required.
Prints in the standard PLA range — no high-temp hotend needed.
From unheated up to 60°C; a mild heated bed helps first-layer adhesion on larger models.
No enclosure or heated chamber needed — SimuBone runs on open-frame FDM printers.
A standard 0.4 mm nozzle works well; no hardened nozzle required for this unfilled PLA base.
Runs at 0.10 mm or higher — go finer for detailed anatomy, thicker for large teaching models.
Store dry; if the filament has absorbed moisture, dry at 65°C for about 4 hours before printing.
Check the reel fits your printer.
Standard 750 g spool — confirm it fits your AMS or dry box.
The 750 g reel also fits popular automated material systems.
The 750 g SimuBone reel fits within the size requirements of popular automated material management systems like the Bambu AMS, Creality CFS, and Anycubic ACE Pro. Before you buy, check the outer diameter, width, and center bore against your printer's spool holder or drybox — open the full 3DXTech reel infographic for exact dimensions.
View reel dimensions →Simulated-bone PLA vs. standard PLA vs. resin models.
Approximate positioning for bone-modeling workflows — confirm exact figures against the technical data sheet.
3DXTech's published property chart.
The quick-reference numbers, straight from the manufacturer.
3DXTech publishes a property chart for SimuBone with the key mechanical and thermal values. For the complete data with ISO test methods, request the full technical data sheet in the resources below.
| SimuBone (Bone PLA) | Standard PLA | SLA / Resin Model | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bone look & feel | Purpose-built, natural bone-white | Plastic look & feel | Smooth, often translucent |
| Saw / drill / screw | Formulated for it | Chips and strips | Brittle — cracks |
| Radio-opaque (X-ray / CT) | Yes | No | Rarely |
| Antibacterial | ISO 22196 certified | No | No |
| Printer needed | Any FDM (PLA settings) | Any FDM | Resin/SLA printer + wash/cure |
| Post-processing | None — prints bone-white | None | Wash, cure, support removal |
| Best for | Surgical planning & imaging models | General prototyping | Fine cosmetic detail |
Qualitative comparison for bone-modeling use; confirm exact properties against the SimuBone TDS. Prices and availability vary by diameter and date.
3DXTech SimuBone Technical Data
RESOURCES
Datasheet & Print Support
Everything you need to qualify and print SimuBone.
WHY REV1 TECH
Authorized 3DXTech Reseller. Medical-AM Specialists.
Rev1 Technologies is an authorized 3DXTech reseller in Auburn Hills, MI, supplying genuine USA-made specialty filament with real print support.
We help you pick the right material, dial in the profile, and match it to a printer that fits your lab.
FAQ
3DXTech SimuBone — Common Questions
What is SimuBone made of?
It's an easy-to-print PLA compounded with specialty additives that give a printed part the color, density, and feel of real bone, plus a radio-opaque additive for imaging and a nano-silver antibacterial additive. It prints in the standard PLA range (220–240°C).
Do I need a special printer?
No. SimuBone prints on practically any FDM printer using ordinary PLA settings — 220–240°C extruder, a bed anywhere from unheated to 60°C, a standard 0.4 mm nozzle, and no heated chamber.
Is it really visible on X-ray and CT?
Yes — SimuBone contains a radio-opaque additive so printed models show contrast on X-ray and CT scans. That lets the model be used for imaging-based planning, fluoroscopy rehearsal, and navigation validation, not just bench display.
Can I saw, drill, and screw into it?
Yes. SimuBone is formulated for ideal sawing, drilling, and screw retention, so hardware seats and holds much like it would in real bone — which is what makes it useful for surgical rehearsal.
What does the antibacterial certification mean?
SimuBone uses an FDA-approved nano-silver additive that eliminates 99.9% of bacteria for the lifetime of the printed part, certified to ISO 22196:2011 — useful for models handled repeatedly in clinical and teaching settings.
Can SimuBone be implanted?
No. SimuBone was created for educational and preoperative-planning purposes only. It is not intended or suitable for implantation or any use inside the body.
What sizes does it come in?
SimuBone is available in 1.75 mm and 2.85 mm diameters on 750 g reels in a single natural Bone White. The 750 g reel also fits popular automated material systems like the Bambu AMS, Creality CFS, and Anycubic ACE Pro. Choose your diameter in the buy-box or ask us about education pricing.
Where is it made?
3DXTech manufactures SimuBone in Grand Rapids, Michigan in an ISO 13485-compliant facility, with a published TDS and lot traceability. Rev1 Technologies is your authorized 3DXTech reseller in Auburn Hills, MI.
Does SimuBone need support material for complex models?
For intricate, overhanging anatomy on a dual-extruder printer, SimuBone mates with 3DXTech's compatible support material for clean removal. On a single-extruder printer, use your slicer's standard PLA supports — SimuBone prints and supports like ordinary PLA.