Aerosint revealed its plans to launch their new multi-material powder bed fusion technology at the recent TCT show. The new technology will enable the printing of high-performance polymers among many other materials.
This new method has no official name yet. The company simply refers to it as their dispensing technology. The capabilities that it touts are the most interesting aspect of it. Aside from low wastage, it is also stunningly diverse in its material’s range. The company is looking to increase the amount and types of materials that it prints. Aerosint claim that it can process ceramics, metals and organics organics as well as the polymers they’ve tested.
Aerosint’s Process
The technology is not on the market and Aerosint have not shown off its full capabilities in public yet. So far, we have a bit of information to work with.
The company is finalising the prototype, basing it off of an industrial SLS printer from 1997. To create the prototype, the team retro-fitted this older design with their own patterning drums. Currently, they are working towards achieving uniform 3D printing speeds, zero wastage through non-fusable support materials that are also recyclable and improved parts cleaning.
The company has printed at 1 – 500 micron resolution, working with PA-12 and TPU. They are hoping to introduce the printer with a speed of 2 second per layer with temperatures that can go up to 400 °C. The company is laying out a tall order but if they are successful it could be one of the most promising methods that the additive manufacturing industry has seen.
Image retrieved from Aerosint Website.