New Additive Manufacturing Contenders: HIP And Centrifugal Printing
Additive Manufacturing (AM) is a area of ever-growing significance, with many startups and present corporations in search of to both enhance on present AM applied sciences or market new approaches. On the RAPID + TCT 2024 tradeshow it appears that evidently we received two extra new AM approaches to regulate to see how they develop. These are powder-based Scorching Isostatic Urgent (HIP) by Grid Logic and centrifugal 3D printing by Fugo Precision.
Grid Logic’s HIP makes use of binder-less powders in sealed containers which might be compressed and deposited right into a HIP can in accordance with the design being printed, adopted by the HIP course of. This can be a frequent post-processing step exterior of AM as nicely, however right here HIP is used as the first methodology in what looks as if a finances model of typical powder sintering AM printers. Doubtlessly it received’t be ‘hobbyist low-cost’, nevertheless it guarantees to permit for printing ceramic and metallic components with minimal wasted powder, which is a serious concern with present powder-based sintering printers.
Whereas Grid Logic’s method is comparatively conservative, Fugo’s Mannequin A printer utilizing centrifugal printing is unquestionably making an attempt to differentiate itself. It makes use of 20 lasers that are claimed to attain 30 µm accuracy in all instructions with a pace of 1 mm/minute. It competes with SLA printers, which additionally signifies that it really works with photopolymers, however somewhat than messing with FEP movie and pesky Earth gravity, it makes use of a spinning drum to create its personal gravitational parameters, together with a built-in components cleansing and curing system. They declare that this methodology requires 50% fewer helps whereas printing a lot sooner than competing business SLA printers.
Even when not instantly related to AM lovers, it’s good to see new concepts being tried within the hope that they may make AM higher for all of us.