3D printing - Materials

Researchers have used sound vibrations to shake metal alloy grains into tighter formation during 3D printing.\r\n\r\n

Successful trials of titanium-copper alloys for 3D printing could kickstart a new range of high-performance alloys for medical device and aerospace applications.

The rise of additive manufacturing - or as it's more commonly known, 3D printing - has enabled the rapid production of complex parts across many domains. As the techniques have become more refined, the semiconductor industry has taken note. But until recently, no one's been able to form single-crystal materials - the building block of semiconductors - with traditional additive manufacturing processes.

Producing glass objects using 3D printing is not easy. Only a few groups of researchers around the world have attempted to produce glass using additive methods. Some have made objects by printing molten glass, but the disadvantage is that this requires extremely high temperatures and heat-​resistant equipment.

A new technique called multimaterial multinozzle 3D printing uses high-speed pressure valves to achieve rapid, continuous, and seamless switching between up to eight different printing materials, enabling the creation of complex shapes in a fraction of the time currently required using printheads that range from a single nozzle to large multinozzle arrays.

An approach to the 3D printing of chocolate using cold extrusion instead of the conventional hot-melt extrusion method, eliminates the need for stringent temperature controls, offering wider potential for the 3D printing of temperature-sensitive food.

Due to rising demand for 3D-printable superalloy materials from companies in the aerospace, automotive and industrial segments, Digital Metal now launches two superalloy grades for use in extreme environments.

Addressing some of the biggest environmental challenges such as plastic waste, overconsumption of energy and other resources, rapidly deteriorating biodiversity and urbanization, the installation is a groundbreaking prototype in urban architecture and an industry-first showcase in Additive Manufacturing of a scalable, city-developing circular economy.

Researchers are drawing inspiration from mollusks to build lightweight, strong materials for wearable technology and more.