The National Centre for Additive Manufacturing (NCAM), based at the
Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) in Coventry, is to take delivery of a new machine which will result in a big expansion of its ceramic 3-D printing capabilities.
The CeraMet 1 ceramic stereolithography machine from polymer 3-D printing specialists
Photocentric Ltd, will allow AM experts at the MTC to print very large ceramic parts such as full-size casting cores.
Peterborough-based Photocentric has been at the cutting edge of photopolymer AM development for more than 18 years. In 2014 the company developed the first 3-D printer based on LCD screens and visible light technology. These have proved successful in the 3-D printing of plastics, enabling significantly greater productivity with larger format printers, delivering lower final part costs.
The new CeraMet 1 stereolithography machine, currently being installed at the MTC benefits from numerous innovations and is the cumulation of Photocentric’s research into the 3-D printing of ceramics. It enables the creation of ceramic objects on a much larger scale and also with greater productivity than was possible before.
The 3-D printer uses patent applied-for dispensing and peel release systems termed ‘blow peel’ and exposes through a custom-made high resolution 14in monochrome screen and can 3-D print with a wide range of ceramic materials.
Photocentric will install its machine at the MTC and can supply a vast range of ceramic resins for use with it.
Will Rowlands, NCAM ceramic AM technology lead, said: “The introduction of the CeraMet 1 at the MTC goes a long way to enhancing its capability to support the UK ceramic manufacturing market. This is an exciting new avenue for the cost-effective manufacture of high-quality, complex ceramic components, opening up this technology to a huge range of applications."
Paul Holt, managing director at Photocentric said: “We are very excited to launch CeraMet 1 as our first large format ceramic 3-D printer. We are thrilled by the opportunity of custom mass manufacturing ceramic parts that this new machine will unleash.
“We believe that our partnership with the MTC will open up new horizons for the large-scale adoption of ceramics AM across industry."
For further information on NCAMs ceramic AM capabilities, please email: .