TTP Vista 3D: Neuer Druckkopf soll mit mehreren Materialien Drucken

Das britische Unternehmen “The Technology Partnership plc” (TTP), meldet die Entwicklung eines neuartigen multi-material Druckkopfes, der neben Kunststoffen, Metallen und Keramik auch mit Chemie, Enzymen und biologischen Zellen drucken können soll.

Mittels “droplet ejecton”, soll der Druckkopf 50 µm+ kleine Partikel von verschiedenen Materialien, die in einer sich verflüchtigenden Lösung gebunden sind, schichtweise zu einem Objekt aufbauen. Damit sollen sich sowohl organische als auch anorganische Materialien verarbeiten lassen und so die industrielle Fertigung von komplexen Strukturen aus mehreren Materialien ermöglichen.

Das Unternehmen rechnet damit das diese Erfindung binnen 10 Jahren die industrielle Herstellung von Fertigprodukten, sowie den medizinischen Bereich revolutionieren wird.

Pressemeldung:

Chemical, ceramic and even biological 3D printing is now a reality as TTP unveils new multi-material breakthrough

New Vista 3D is the first printer technology available with multi-material capabilities and potential to revolutionise the manufacturing industry within ten years

Cambridge, UK: 4 September 2013

TTP has today unveiled its ground breaking Vista 3D, which is the first print head technology that can print with more than one material. Unlike existing 3D printing solutions, the same Vista 3D print heads can dispense or print ceramics, and even biological cells, as well as the traditional metals and plastics, opening up the possibility of printing products as diverse as toys, medical devices, aircraft parts and even diagnostic test strips at the touch of a button.

This breakthrough in technology will potentially change the face of manufacturing, as we know it. It will give organisations the ability to print off stock and supplies of complex products that comprise of several materials as and when they need, making the process of ordering goods from the Far East or other manufacturing facilities a thing of the past.

By discovering a breakthrough method in droplet ejection, TTP’s Vista 3D can print large (50 µm+) particles and more viscous and volatile fluids. The open printhead architecture and nozzle motion to eject fluids makes it possible to digitally print these commercially attractive materials. Such features also allow Vista to exhibit a much better reliability than has been possible for inkjet technology previously.

Up until now, 3D printing has been restricted to single material types or families of the same material, such as UV cured acrylic basic resins, waxes, plaster (gypsum) materials and metal powders, all of which have to be used separately.

Vista 3D print heads can print both organic and inorganic materials including ceramics, biological cells, enzymes, metals, plastics and a broad range of other chemical materials.

“3D printing has already been hailed as the future of manufacturing, and many household name companies are already making use of the technology to cut costs, reduce inventory and improve development and manufacturing flexibility, albeit limited to single material components,” explained Dr David Smith, TTP.

“Our latest breakthrough will speed this process up and will change the face of manufacturing over the next ten years. The manufacturing process has remained the same for centuries with one company making products in a factory then shipping them out when orders are made. Multi-material 3D printing will change this. No longer will organisations need to bulk buy or wait for items to be restocked, companies can simply print off the products they need, when they need them.

“It will become possible to go to your local garage and have a new exhaust printed out there and then for you or to go to the hospital and get a custom implant created for you at the touch of a button.

“From a medical perspective, the opportunities are endless from printing out a diagnostic test to ultimately printing off an organ that can be used in the human body.”
This innovative and patented technology by TTP is already being commercialised in 2D printing for a variety of more conventional printing applications through collaboration with a number of world leading businesses.

(c) Picture & Link: TTP Group