There is yet another new development in the field of 3D printing. Researchers at MIT have started printing fused glass.
The four researchers have developed a printing system that not only provides control over the hot glass material, but also creates a high-quality final product.
Combination
Combining additive manufacturing with molten glass "provides an entry point to the production of highly complex geometric and custom-designed objects while optical transparency and chemical stability remain available through the traditional manufacturing process," the researchers state in a scientific journal.
They call the new printer G3DP2. The printer combines a digitally integrated thermal control system with a four-axis motion control system, introducing industrial manufacturing capabilities with increased production speed and reliability. This while ensuring product accuracy and repeatability. This is something not previously possible with glass.
Potential
The MIT researchers think the printer has a lot of potential for future developments. The silicate glass particles, they say, are suspended in resin. This allows it to form into complex geometries before post-processing removes the resin to make the glass casing. "This approach is applicable for fabricating small and detailed parts such as microfluidics and optics. This is because it provides high precision and optical transparency."
The project has two purposes, namely to create an industrial 3D printer for molten glass on the one hand and, on the other, to develop a 3D printer glass structure capable of bringing about new possibilities in industrial production.
The printer uses a sealed, heated box to hold the molten glass in place and a thermal controlled where the actual printing takes place. A plate then drops down to print the object, just like a regular 3D printer.
Source: Interesting Engineering
Photo (for illustration): Unsplash
