3DCeram ceramic prints
The continuation of this affiliation will allow the two companies to tackles issues relating to additive manufacturing and to plan for the future of 3D ceramic printing.
Advanced ceramics company, 3DCeram has renewed its partnership with the Science of Ceramic Processes and Surface Treatment (SPCTS), signing a three-year collaboration agreement.
The continuation of this affiliation will allow the two companies to tackles issues relating to additive manufacturing and to plan for the future of 3D ceramic printing. 3DCeram’s partnership with the laboratory for the SPCTS (UMR CNRS/ Universite Limoges) was first arranged in 2010.
Forged by Thierry Chartier, CNRS Research Supervisor, this renewal highlights the strong ties between the French companies. This collaborative project came to fruition with the development of innovative materials and processes, as well as the filing of shared patents. While committed to accelerating 3D ceramic printing, the two companies are also members of the European H2020 ‘Friendship’ project.
“Sharing our resources and our expertise with 3DCeram as part of what is a historic and ongoing collaboration in the field of additive processes applied to ceramics has allowed the stereolithography process to reach new, internationally-recognised heights,” said Chartier. “As proof of this process’s industrial maturity, we can cite the example, in the field of health, of the development of cranial implants and made-to-measure prosthetic bones.”
The extension of this partnership will ensure 3D ceramic printing projects will remain possible. Aiming to sustain and share the SPCTS’ unique expertise, industrialising printing and additive manufacturing processes based on laser stereolithography, 3DCeram is hopeful the partnership can contribute to a ‘booming’ market.
The upstream work on laser stereolithography undertaken by Chartier has made a significant contribution to the development of ceramic additive manufacturing technology that 3DCeram has been able to transform into production technology. This innovative, on-demand, production service makes it possible to quickly develop geometric shapes, ranging from the simplest to the most complex.
“Renewing this partnership shows the willingness of 3DCeram to expand our range with extensive, hybrid solutions and on-demand services across our three activity sectors: industry, luxury goods and biomedicine,” said Richard Gaignon, co-director of 3DCeram. “The ongoing trust shown by SPCTS allows us to strengthen our position as a world leader in manufacturing machines and components using 3D ceramic printing.”
Last month, 3DCeram also announced a partnership with Shenzhen Sunshine Laser Industry, a major Chinese company specialising in precision laser technology. In order to boost its range of equipment, and offer an on-demand 3D printing service, Shenzhen has purchased the Ceramaker 900.
Shenzhen have significant means at their disposal and offer services for engraving and laser precision cutting. The group has factories across China, equipped with thousands of machines. With the recent installation of the Ceramaker machine will allow the company to expand its catalogue of materials and enter into new markets.
