Dynamic additive platform prints using movable supports

News

Engineers in the US have created a prototype 3D printing platform with adjustable metal pins that negate the need to print excess support structures.

Many additive methods rely on printing additional support material in order to maintain part integrity during the manufacturing process, particularly for complex components. These excess structures must then be removed and the part finished by hand, something that can result in shape inaccuracies or surface roughness. Furthermore, the additional material can often not be reused, leading to increased waste.

Comment: How COVID has accelerated additive adoption

The new platform, developed by scientists at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, features programmable, dynamically controlled metal pins to replace the printed supports. According to the researchers, testing of the prototype demonstrated around a 35 per cent saving in the materials required to print certain parts.

"I work with biomedical doctors who 3D print using biomaterials to build tissue or organs," said Yong Chen, professor of industrial and systems engineering at USC. "A lot of the materials they use are very expensive­-we're talking small bottles that cost between $500 to $1000 each."

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