It is true that ceramics is one of the most commonly used product for manufacturing, however, the ceramics 3D printer has restricted set of applications. There are very few number of companies that are currently making 3D printers meant for ceramics 3D printing. One of the most noted ones in this respect is a France based organization called 3DCeram that is engaged n the production of Ceramaker 3D printer. It is basically a stereolithography 3D printer that prints photocurable ceramic pastes in 3D mode. The paste is primarily constituted by zirconia alumina, and hydroxyapatite (HA). The device has a build volume of 110mm X 300mm X 300 mm, t can produce objects having a layer thickness of some 25 microns.
Figure 1: Ceramaker 3D-printer
Apart from production of highly accurate and resoluted entities the printer is also capable of generating products with low density, lower coefficient of thermal expansion,high abrasion average chemical stability and high corrosion resistance. The unused or left out material can be recycled later on and reused in manufacturing of new materials. All the materials that have yet been produced by the 3D Caremaker feature distinct characteristics. The Alumina or the aluminium oxide present in it acts as an electrical insulator that has high thermal conductivity resistance, and hardness to face the chemicals and bear with them. The material produced, thus, is capable of being used n cutting tools and rough use in electronics. Another constituent zirconia sports higher thermal stability wear and chemical resistance along with good hardness that makes it perfect for 3D printing jewelry. The bone material used by makers of this printer happens to be a corrected version of HA making it capable of producing biocompatible implants and other places where bone replacement is a must.
How It Works ?
The Ceramaker is basically a SLA type of 3D printer that directs the 355-nm UV laser towards the galvanometer mirrors that can deflect the light over a sleek layer of ceramic paste right before the laser rays harden the photopolymer inside the paste. The print bed s then lowered slowly and another layer of paste is applied over the print bed. The process works in a cycle untill the object is finished completely. Once it is complete, the uncured paste gets scraped away for another round. The print comes up in a slow manner and extra material s washed off its surface unless the required object comes through.
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