We’re beginning to see a slew of new inkjet technologies entering the additive manufacturing (AM) market. The process evolved slowly over the last two decades. However, patents expiring and new methods have allowed for a more rapid evolution in recent years. Durst Group is a long-time producer of 2D systems. Its spin-off D3 AM has announced a new 3D ceramic printer.
With a process dubbed Micro-Particle Jetting (MPJ), D3-AM’s LABII system is capable of 3D printing highly concentrated water-based suspensions with almost any particle size and distribution. The company aims to target technical ceramics including zirconia and silicon carbide with coarse grains. After printing, the parts will be sintered in an oven to produce a dense ceramic part.
The LAB II is a 3D printer. Image courtesy D3-AM.Stefan Waldner, the Product Director of D3-AM GmbH, said of the technology, “The previous material limitations of traditional inkjet printheads were a significant roadblock to market breakthrough. We are able to produce components that were previously impossible by eliminating material compatibility limitations. Our technology has the potential to transform manufacturing processes of the future, from aerospace to energy transition.”
Technical ceramics are used in applications that other materials cannot. They have high resistance to chemicals, heat and abrasion. LABII is a great solution for producing intricate ceramic components. Especially for complex designs that include overhangs, hollow bodies, and varying wall thicknesses, D3-AM’s technology eliminates the limitations associated with many other ceramic 3D printing process, particularly vat photopolymerization-based techniques.
Ceramic heat exchanger 3D-printed. Image by D3 AM.D3 AM is a product of the Durst Group. The Durst Group is an Italian global leader for digital printing and production technologies. Durst Group was founded in 1936 and has an impressive history of developing innovative printing technologies. Durst has successfully made the transition from traditional photography equipment to super wide format inkjet printing and UV polymerization technology. Durst boasts an employee pool of 8,80 people with 20 branches and over 150 sales and services partners around the world.
The LAB II machine will be officially unveiled at Formnext 2023, but it won’t be the only inkjetting company in attendance. Inkjet 3D printers will not only be dominated by Stratasys but also by a number other companies. Quantica, Inkbit and Mimaki are all trying to take over the photopolymer-inkjet throne.
XJet is the creator of nano particle jetting (NPJ) and may be closely watching D3-AM. The Israeli company, though it has not been able to scale up its technology at the level that was originally anticipated, has always made the only ceramic inkjetting equipment. Unlike D3AM, the Israeli company has also developed a metal jetting technology along with successful customer relations. It has a significant lead over D3-AM because of this. HP may be the target of both, as it has previously demonstrated ceramics 3-D printing using Multi Jet Fusion.
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