Printing Multi Materials and Graded Structures Now Possible

Manufacturing of products with one or more materials with graded structures in a single process using additive technology is now possible, according to a European funded project.

The new additive production system, based on High-Viscosity Inkjet Printing, is being developed by TNO in The Netherlands under the auspices of the Custom-Fit project. It has several print heads that produce continuous streams of material droplets at high frequency.

Dr. Michiel Willemse is leading the team developing the inkjet printing machine at TNO. He says, “The process is unique in its capability to print highly viscous, UV curable, resins. Viscosities up to 500 mPa s have been printed successfully. This offers the opportunity to print products with unequalled mechanical... More