3D printing - Materials

Digital Metal now adds pure copper to its extensive material offering for metal binder jetting.

A tree grows strong from years of generating its own food. Now imagine if products could be strengthened with the same living materials that provide nutrients to strengthen trees. This is the work of a team whose research lab is one of the first to infuse 3-D printer ink with living material.

New research shows that patterns inspired by lobster shells can make 3D printed concrete stronger, to support more complex and creative architectural structures. Digital manufacturing technologies like 3D concrete printing have immense potential to save time, effort and material in construction.

Researchers are working to transform soy hulls left over from soybean processing into valuable food and industrial products. The United Soybean Board has awarded $350,000 to further develop methods for using soy hulls in modified fiber composites for 3D printing applications and produce the sugar substitute xylose as a value-added product.

Inspired by the color-changing skin of cuttlefish, octopuses and squids, engineers have created a 3D printed smart gel that changes shape when exposed to light, becomes "artificial muscle" and may lead to new military camouflage, soft robotics and flexible displays.

Materialise  announces  Bluesint PA12, a material innovation that makes it possible to 3D print with up to 100% re-used powder.

Built for exceptional temperature stability, this new product thrives in printing conditions that no existing water-soluble support material can withstand. This makes it uniquely compatible with industry-favored thermoplastics such as Polyetheretherketone and Polyetherimide and significantly reduces the cost and time of downstream processing.

Henkel and Carbon to combine materials and printing expertise for high-performance additive manufacturing. Henkel and Carbon today have announced a partnership agreement to collaborate for Loctite branded formulations validated for use with Carbon's additive manufacturing process.

Researchers have developed a method to perform direct ink writing 3D printing of milk-based products at room temperature, while maintaining its temperature sensitive nutrients.