A Fortus material unlock is a one-time service that removes the OEM material licensing restrictions on a Stratasys Fortus 380mc, 450mc, or F900. It opens every material the machine is mechanically capable of running, including ULTEM 9085, ULTEM 1010, PC-ISO, ASA, and Nylon 12CF, for a single service fee instead of separate OEM license fees for each material.
Stratasys sells these machines with material options locked behind separate licenses. That means the hardware capable of printing ULTEM, PC, Nylon 12, ASA, and more may already be sitting in your facility, limited only by software. Pivot AM Service unlocks it. No new hardware is required.
How Stratasys Material Licensing Works on the Fortus 380mc and 450mc
Stratasys typically sells material options for the Fortus 380mc, 450mc, and F900 as separate licenses, priced per material and per machine. A machine licensed for ABS only can’t run ULTEM or PC-ISO until the owner buys the license for that material, even though the hardware is capable of printing it.
For many shops, this means buying a new license every time a job calls for a different material, or turning down work the machine could physically handle.
What a Fortus Material Unlock Does
A material unlock removes the software-based material restrictions on your Fortus system, so the machine can run the full material set its hardware supports. You pay once, and the machine is open to the full material library it was engineered to run.
What an unlock includes:
- Access to every material your machine’s hardware supports
- One service fee instead of per-material license fees
- No hardware changes to the machine
- Verification that the machine prints correctly across the new materials
For the older 360mc, 400mc, and 900mc systems, Pivot AM’s unlock service also expands the small envelope 360mc and 400mc build platforms to their full-size equivalents. The 380mc, 450mc, and F900 service applies the same approach to this newer generation of machines.
Materials Available After a Fortus Unlock
After an unlock, the Fortus 380mc and 450mc can run 14 materials, and the F900 can run 17.
| Material | Fortus 380mc and 450mc | Fortus F900 |
| ABS-M30 | Yes | Yes |
| ABS-M30i | Yes | Yes |
| ABS-ESD7 | Yes | Yes |
| ABSi | No | Yes |
| ASA | Yes | Yes |
| PC | Yes | Yes |
| PC-ABS | Yes | Yes |
| PC-ISO | Yes | Yes |
| PPSF/PPSU | No | Yes |
| ULTEM 9085 resin | Yes | Yes |
| ULTEM 1010 resin | Yes | Yes |
| FDM Nylon 6 | No | Yes |
| FDM Nylon 12 | Yes | Yes |
| FDM Nylon 12CF | Yes | Yes |
| Antero 800NA | Yes | Yes |
| Antero 840CN03 | Yes | Yes |
| ST-130 (sacrificial tooling) | Yes | Yes |
Fortus 450mc and 380mc Material List After an Unlock
- ABS-M30, ABS-M30i, and ABS-ESD7
- ASA
- PC, PC-ABS, and PC-ISO
- ULTEM 9085 resin and ULTEM 1010 resin
- FDM Nylon 12 and FDM Nylon 12CF
- Antero 800NA and Antero 840CN03
- ST-130 sacrificial tooling
Full Material List for the Fortus F900
- ABS-M30, ABSi, ABS-M30i, and ABS-ESD7
- ASA
- PC, PC-ABS, and PC-ISO
- PPSF/PPSU
- ULTEM 9085 resin and ULTEM 1010 resin
- FDM Nylon 6, FDM Nylon 12, and FDM Nylon 12CF
- Antero 800NA and Antero 840CN03
- ST-130 sacrificial tooling
Materials the F900 Supports That the 380mc and 450mc Don’t
The Fortus F900 supports three materials that the 380mc and 450mc do not: PPSF/PPSU, FDM Nylon 6, and ABSi. All three are included in the unlock for F900 machines.
- PPSF/PPSU: a high-temperature, chemically resistant material
- FDM Nylon 6: a tough nylon for durable functional parts
- ABSi: a translucent ABS
Running ULTEM 9085 on a Fortus 380mc Without an OEM License
Yes. After a Pivot AM material unlock, a Fortus 380mc can run ULTEM 9085 without buying a separate Stratasys license for it. ULTEM 9085 and ULTEM 1010 are both included in the 380mc and 450mc unlock.
ULTEM is very sensitive to moisture, so dry it before printing and use tips dedicated to ULTEM. Our guide on why Fortus printers pause mid-build covers drying temperatures and tip practices.
Running PC-ISO on a Fortus 380mc
Yes. PC-ISO is included in the Fortus 380mc and 450mc material unlock, so you can run it without paying for a separate Stratasys license. PC-ISO is often used for parts that need biocompatibility or sterilization, which makes it valuable for medical and food-related work.
Running Nylon 12CF on a Fortus 380mc
Yes. FDM Nylon 12CF is part of the Fortus 380mc and 450mc unlock material set. Carbon fiber-filled materials can be harder on tips than standard materials, so our team confirms your machine’s configuration and tip requirements during the consultation.
What ST-130 Sacrificial Tooling Material Is
ST-130 is a sacrificial tooling material used to make cores and mandrels for composite layup. After the composite part is formed and cured around the ST-130 tool, the tool is dissolved away, leaving a hollow composite part.
ST-130 is included in the material unlock for the Fortus 380mc, 450mc, and F900.
OEM Material License vs Third-Party Material Unlock
An OEM material license from Stratasys unlocks one material on one machine for a per-material fee. A third-party material unlock from Pivot AM opens the full range of materials your machine can run for a single service fee.
| OEM material license | Pivot AM material unlock | |
| What it unlocks | One material | Every material the hardware supports |
| Pricing | Per material, per machine | One service fee |
| Adding materials later | New license each time | Already included |
| Hardware changes | None | None |
| Verification | Varies | Test prints across new materials before sign-off |
Cost of an OEM License vs a Third-Party Unlock
OEM material licenses are usually priced per material, per machine, so the cost adds up each time you need a new material. A third-party unlock is a single fee that covers the full material set.
For older Fortus 360mc and 400mc systems, Pivot AM material unlocks run approximately $1,000. Pricing for the 380mc, 450mc, and F900 depends on your model, generation, and current licensing. Reach out to Pivot AM for a quote on your machine.
Material Unlock and Your Stratasys Warranty or Service Contract
Whether a material unlock affects your warranty or service contract depends on your machine’s age, current service coverage, and configuration. Talk to our team before scheduling, and we’ll walk you through what applies to your specific system.
Many 380mc and 450mc machines are already out of warranty, and owners who use independent Fortus maintenance aren’t tied to an OEM service contract. If your machine is still under Stratasys coverage, review your agreement before making any changes.
Unlocking Materials Without Stratasys Involvement
Yes. Pivot AM performs Fortus material unlocks directly, without requiring you to go through Stratasys. Our technicians handle the full process, from confirming your machine’s configuration to verifying test prints on the new materials.
How the Fortus Material Unlock Process Works
The unlock process takes four steps and is scheduled around your production.
- Consultation: We confirm your machine’s model, generation, and current material licensing
- Scheduling: Our service team picks a time that doesn’t disrupt your production schedule
- Unlock: Our technicians open the full material set your Fortus can run
- Verification: We confirm the machine prints correctly across the newly available materials before we sign off
Turnaround depends on your scheduling availability. Our team gives you a specific timeline during the consultation. In most cases, the hardware across these platforms supports the full Fortus material set, and we confirm compatibility before any work is scheduled.
Is an Unlock Worth It Instead of Buying a Second Machine?
For most shops, yes. Unlocking materials on a Fortus 450mc costs far less than buying a second printer to cover a material gap, and it doesn’t add floor space, maintenance contracts, or spare parts inventory.
Why owners choose an unlock:
- You already own the capability. These machines were built as multi-material production platforms. An unlock changes only what the software allows you to print.
- You can quote more jobs. Service bureaus and in-house teams lose bids when a job calls for ULTEM or PC-ISO and the machine is only licensed for ABS. An unlocked Fortus lets you say yes to more RFQs.
- It protects your investment. A refurbished or leased 450mc or F900 is already a significant investment. An unlock turns one machine into the equivalent of several single-material systems.
- It costs less than adding machines or licenses. Buying licenses one at a time, or a second printer, costs significantly more than a single unlock.
Other Ways to Expand What Your Fortus Can Print
The fastest way to expand what a Fortus 380mc or 450mc can print, without buying a new printer, is a material unlock. You can also get more out of your machine by keeping it in top condition and using quality material.
- Unlock the full material set your hardware supports
- Keep the machine maintained with a 24-month preventative maintenance plan
- Use quality FDM material, such as Argyle FDM material for Stratasys machines
- Dry your filament properly, especially engineering materials like ULTEM and PC, following our filament drying best practices
Unlock Your Fortus
Pivot AM Service provides repair, preventative maintenance, and equipment upgrade services for Stratasys, 3D Systems, and UnionTech systems. To find out what your Fortus 380mc, 450mc, or F900 can really do, contact us or request a quote. You can also call 641-780-5686 or 888-928-6811, or email info@pivotam.com.
Yes. ULTEM 9085 and ULTEM 1010 are included in the Pivot AM material unlock for the Fortus 380mc and 450mc, so no separate Stratasys license is needed.
ABS-M30, ABS-M30i, ABS-ESD7, ASA, PC, PC-ABS, PC-ISO, ULTEM 9085, ULTEM 1010, FDM Nylon 12, FDM Nylon 12CF, Antero 800NA, Antero 840CN03, and ST-130 sacrificial tooling.
It’s a one-time service that removes OEM material licensing restrictions so the machine can run every material its hardware supports. The process includes a consultation, scheduling, the unlock, and verification test prints.
Yes. Stratasys typically sells material options for these machines as separate licenses, priced per material and per machine, even though the hardware can run more materials.
Yes. PC-ISO is included in the Pivot AM material unlock for the Fortus 380mc and 450mc.
ABS-M30, ABSi, ABS-M30i, ABS-ESD7, ASA, PC, PC-ABS, PC-ISO, PPSF/PPSU, ULTEM 9085, ULTEM 1010, FDM Nylon 6, FDM Nylon 12, FDM Nylon 12CF, ST-130, Antero 800NA, and Antero 840CN03.
Yes, for most shops. An unlock costs far less than a second printer and adds no floor space, maintenance contracts, or spare parts inventory.
It depends on your machine’s age, current coverage, and configuration. Talk to Pivot AM before scheduling so we can explain what applies to your system.
An OEM license unlocks one material on one machine for a per-material fee. A third-party unlock opens every material the machine supports for a single service fee.
Yes. FDM Nylon 12CF is included in the 380mc and 450mc unlock. Pivot AM confirms tip and configuration requirements during the consultation.
OEM licenses are priced per material, per machine, so costs add up. A Pivot AM unlock is a single fee for the full material set. Unlocks for the older 360mc and 400mc run about $1,000, and 380mc, 450mc, and F900 pricing is quoted per machine.
The F900 also supports PPSF/PPSU, FDM Nylon 6, and ABSi.
Yes. Pivot AM performs Fortus material unlocks directly and handles the full process, including verification test prints.
ST-130 is a sacrificial tooling material used to make cores and mandrels for composite layup, which are dissolved away after curing. It’s included in the unlock for the Fortus 380mc, 450mc, and F900.
Get a material unlock to access every material the hardware supports, keep the machine on a preventative maintenance plan, use quality FDM material, and dry filament properly.
