By Melissa Donovan
The November issue of Industrial Print includes a chart listing various three-dimensional (3D) printers capable of printing ceramic parts. Materials used on these machines include but aren’t limited to alumina, cordierite, silicon carbide, and zirconia.
As an addendum to the chart, below we include a brief roundup by vendor on select printers.
3D Minerals
The Cartesian 3D printer is manufactured with custom dimensions and can produce ceramic parts with two different technologies. Robocasting allows for driving certain motors and the cartridge being placed as close as possible to the extruder to limit pressure losses. Slurry deposition modeling allows for the transformation of ceramic slurry into a paste in the mixing body by means of two feed pumps—one for the slurry and one for the additive.
3DCeram
Using stereolithography technology, the C1000 FLEXMATIC meets the industrial challenges of large-scale production. Designed to integrate the Smart Ceramic Factory, it has all the assets to print ceramic parts in a semi-automatic line. It features a build volume of 320x320x200 millimeters, a removable tank that allows for inline processing of printed parts and automation of the recycling process—uncured material and automatic cleaning.
Desktop Metal
Desktop Metal’s binder jetting technology works with a range of ceramics. The printer series most popular for these materials is the X-Series, featuring patented Triple ACT for excellent surface quality and specialty materials. Triple ACT is advanced compaction technology, which dispenses, spreads, and compacts ultra-fine powders with tight parameter controls. The three printers in the series include InnoventX, X25Pro, and X160Pro.
Formlabs
Formlabs’ Form 3+ SLA printer offers the ability to go from design to finished part in fewer steps with the streamlined, end-to-end Form 3+ ecosystem. It’s easy to switch between materials thanks to a spill-free, swappable cartridge system. Intuitive PreForm software allows for managing printers, consumables, and teams.
Lithoz
CeraFab printers, using lithography-based ceramic manufacturing, utilize ceramic materials. Of note is the CeraFab System S65, which is a flexible, well-rounded printer that can handle any project, according to the company. It is designed for digital mass production. A central element of the CeraFab System is the database-supported storage and management of all process data, enabling seamless documentation of print jobs.
Pollen AM Inc.
Pam Series MC uses fused granular fabrication to create industrial materials that turn into functional parts. If offers full setup control and no volatile powders with a build volume of 11.81 inches. The printer is available in the U.S. for $80,000.
Tethon 3D
The Bison 1000 DLP Printer works with digital light processing technology. With a build volume of 4.3×2.4×5.4 inches the printer is a desktop device equipped with a camera and application to allow for remote monitoring. It is optimized for high load ceramic materials.
VormVrij 3D
VormVrij offers the LUTUM 3D Clay Printer series, a versatile digital sculpting tool for ceramists, researchers, and educators. The clay printer is designed with the user in mind. It is a sustainable, easy to maintain piece of machinery developed to last a long time. It is made from four millimeter thick steel plating, high grade aluminum extrusion, and stainless steel components.
Voxeljet
Voxeljet relies on the intelligent fusion of flexible additive manufacturing in the universal binder jetting process with classic sintering technologies. The VX200 and VX1000 printers are part of this lineup. The VX200 is a compact device offering a build volume of 5.9×11.8×7.9 inches. The VX1000 is a multi-material printer, offering creation of beyond just ceramic parts, with a build volume of 39.3×23.6×19.7 inches.
WASP
The Delta WASP 2040 Clay printer is accurate and fast using all ceramic materials. The clay 3D printer is open and accessible on three sides to interact during the prints. A compact and professional clay 3D printer, it prints up to 40 centimeters in height. Pair the printer with WASP’s new parametric 3D modeling software, WASP App, which lets users create their own design objects by manipulating a series of parameters.
Xjet
The Carmel 1400C ceramic system is ideal for applications requiring high productivity, superior quality, and geometric complexity. Using recirculation advanced inkjet technology—nanoparticle jetting—the printer features a build volume of 19.7×5.5 inches.
3D Ceramic Printing
Looking to print with ceramics? The options range from desktop to industrial size—and everything in between.
Dec2023, Industrial Print Magazine