copper Archives - Perfect 3D Printing Filament

New Guide: Minecraft Inspired Epoxy Resin Torch Lamp with Touch Control

Check out the newest project tutorial from Erin St. Blaine: make an epoxy resin Minecraft-inspired torch lamp. This lamp has a strand of warm white fairy lights embedded right into the resin, making a lovely starry glow effect. Adding a Circuit Playground Express underneath powers up the lamp with 10 programmable NeoPixel LEDs. The included MakeCode downloadable code makes the lamp flicker like a torch for a really beautiful ambient lighting effect.

From the guide:

Make your own custom Minecraft-inspired Torch lamp from epoxy resin. Embed a strand of fairy lights inside, and set it on top of a Circuit Playground Express. The onboard NeoPixel lights provide a lovely, flickery torch effect. This gorgeous lamp glows from the inside out.

Add a piece of shiny copper tape to the base, and you can change light modes with a touch of your finger. Capacitive touch control is just like magic!

We’ve provided a simple 3d printable base model, or you can get creative and design your own display mount. We made ours look like Viking Dragon Ships to go with our Dragon Wall Sconce, and now we sail into sleep at night with fiery dragonish gargoyles watching over us.

Learn to make your own Resin Torch Lamp here: https://learn.adafruit.com/epoxy-resin-torch-lamp-with-touch-control-3d-printed-base

3D Printing and COVID-19: Reusable Metal Filters Being Tested by ExOne

There is a flurry of industrial additive manufacturing (AM) activity in response to the medical supply shortages caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, with some work being directed toward what may be dead-end avenues and other generating some novel and interesting results. Among the more unique applications of AM to the production of medical supplies is an effort by ExOne to produce reusable metal filters for filtration masks and other equipment.

Most of the large 3D printing companies, including ExOne, have noted that their global supply chain clued them into the wide-ranging impact of the coronavirus outbreak early on, pushing them to consider the effects the disease would have both on manufacturing operations and medical supplies. ExOne CEO John Hartner told 3DPrint.com that this got the company thinking about its potential role in the supply chain.

A 3D-printed copper filter with a mask. Image courtesy of ExOne.

It was when the company recognized the medical waste accumulating as a result of disposable personal protective equipment (PPE) that the company understood one area that it could provide its expertise. Multiple news stories have reported how discarded PPE could cause ecological damage. Hospitals in Wuhan have purportedly generated six times as much medical waste at the peak of the pandemic than normally used, with daily waste output reaching 240 metric tons.

Because ExOne already has customers who use the company’s metal binder jetting technology to create industrial filters, the company realized that it might be able to both ensure the availability of filtering face masks, like N95 respirators (for differences in medical mask types, read our article here), and limit medical waste. The company has partnered with the University of Pittsburgh to develop and test 3D-printed, reusable filters made from a variety of metal materials. These filters are autoclavable, meaning that they can be completely sterilized before reuse.

ExOne began with one particular mask and after performing sufficient testing internally, the company began conducting filtration testing with an agency that performs official testing for National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health standards. Initial results have been promising, pushing the partners to work with two local hospitals to set up clinical trials and begin the emergency approval process with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Beyond the first mask model that the company is working with, ExOne is exploring other models from other manufacturers, as well as ventilator filters.

The use of metal binder jetting technology provides the benefit of being able to control the density of a part by way of powder particle size and level of sintering, which is what has drawn some of its customers to producing industrial filters, such as strainer plates. With Ansys, the company is able to run particle filtration simulation for the mask filters, which can then be controlled through the printing and sintering process. Hartner explained:

“It is amazing the detail [ANSYS has] in the calculation capability to look at different applications, different form factors, what flow rate is necessary, what filtration is necessary. Then, we just print and perform the appropriate level of sintering to get that porosity and that filter output.”

Due to fewer constraints related to particle size and energy source requirements (no lasers or electron beams), the process can also use a wider range of materials. In turn, ExOne is testing a variety of metals, including stainless steel and copper, both of which are widely used in the medical industry. Copper, in particular, has demonstrated value in the COVID crisis for its ability to kill roughly 96 to 99 percent of the SARS-CoV-2 virus on contact.

“We’re doing both stainless steel and copper at this point and we actually have other materials we’re testing, as well,” Hartner told 3DPrint.com. “Honestly, this project is evolving relevant to how this virus responds to different material sets. Copper is one that’s been identified as one of the better materials, which is why we moved from stainless steel to copper as another way to test the possibilities.”

Of course, it is too early to tell how many times a metal filter could be reused. One would assume that, at some point, they would need to be discarded. From its industrial customers, ExOne knows that filters for industrial applications can survive over a year in abrasive environments, suggesting that metal filters could substantially longer than traditional cloth filters. With ExOne estimating that filters would cost less than $20 per unit, they would quickly pay for themselves over the course of reuse while reducing hazardous medical waste.

3D-printed copper and stainless steel filters made by ExOne and the University of Pittsburgh.

Not only does the example presented here by ExOne demonstrate a more innovative response to medical supply shortages, but also new futures for medical supplies in general. While the current crisis will hopefully be drawn to something of a close at some point in the future, the problem of medical waste and waste in general will continue, necessitating more long-lasting items.

The post 3D Printing and COVID-19: Reusable Metal Filters Being Tested by ExOne appeared first on 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing.

Markforged Introduces Pure 3D Printable Copper

Markforged has announced the release of a new metal material for its Metal X 3D printer: copper. Due to the comparatively low-cost of the Metal X system, this makes Markforged technology the most affordable method for 3D printing copper in the industry.

Copper has some very niche uses, mostly associated with its great thermal and electrical conductivity; however, due to its high reflectivity, copper is extremely difficult to work using laser-based metal 3D printing systems. As a result, the industry has often relied on copper alloys to tone down the metal’s luster. In cases where pure copper is 3D printable, the systems that can process (EBM from GE Additive and DED from Optomec) it are typically quite expensive.

A spool of copper for 3D printing on the Metal X.

The Metal X system is one of two low-cost machines that 3D print metal using bound metal deposition (BMD) technology: depositing metal-bound plastic filament to create green parts that must be washed in a debinding station and then sintered in a furnace. This brings down the cost of the complete package (including post-processing equipment) to about $100,000 to $160,000. The materials themselves are meant to be lower cost as well, as they are usually metal powders from the much larger metal injection molding (MIM) industry that have been qualified for the BMD process.

Copper parts printed with the Metal X in a sintering furnace.

Additionally, because the initial deposition process relies on technology similar to desktop FDM 3D printers, it is much easier than metal powder bed fusion (PBF) systems. While the post-processing steps may seem burdensome to the uninitiated, they are common in MIM and the printer itself is likely to be a lot safer and less complicated than PBF.

The ability to print with copper at a lower cost can be useful in applications that require high thermal or electrical conductivity. While NASA is 3D printing copper for rocket engines, more common and smaller uses in industrial manufacturing include induction coils. Induction heating relies on passing electromagnetic currents through conductive metal elements for the purpose of generating heat. This highly controllable process is used in such applications as welding, brazing, forging, cooking and injection molding.

As it stands, traditionally made copper inductor coils have relatively short lifespans as joints between welded elements experience repeated stress every time they are heated and cooled. Several firms in the 3D printing space (the GH Group, GKN Additive and PROTIQ, to name a few) have learned that 3D printing copper induction coils can increase the lifespan of the parts by two to three times, while also opening up new design possibilities thanks to the geometric complexity allowed with 3D printing.

In the automotive industry, copper is used for spot welding; however, having parts made for welding jobs can take months and cost thousands of dollars. Markforged demonstrated the utility of its new material to make spot welding parts for a large automotive manufacturer.

The auto company tested how copper shanks made using the Metal X would hold up while performing typical welding operations. The company found that the 3D-printed shanks performed just as well and showed the same resistance as traditionally made counterparts. Moreover, they believe that using the 3D-printed components could reduce lead times by 12 times and part costs by six. As a result, the company plans to introduce the parts to the production line.

A copper shank 3D printed by the Metal X.

The maintenance manager of the automotive manufacturer was quoted as saying, “[O]ur experience with 3D printed copper has been incredible – especially when looking at its conductivity and structural stability. And now that we’ve successfully evaluated weld testing, we plan on expanding our metal 3D printing capacity for this and other metal components. 3D printing copper with Markforged is faster and more cost effective than purchasing complex machined components, and we expect it to help us mitigate downtime exposure and reduce inventory costs by $200,000 a year using only one Metal X system.”

The latest material from Markforged is a useful indicator of the rapidly evolving metal 3D printing space, which is seeing new materials qualified for metal 3D printing processes at an exciting pace thanks in part to bound metal printing technologies like Metal X. As binder jetting systems from HP and Desktop Metal begin entering the marketplace, the larger manufacturing industry will begin changing in ways we may not have even predicted.

The post Markforged Introduces Pure 3D Printable Copper appeared first on 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing.

Optomec updates LENS system to 3D print in copper

New Mexico’s Optomec has reached what it is calling a “major milestone” for its Laser Engineered Net Shaping (LENS) direct energy deposition (DED) process. Catering to the popular heat exchanger market and other high-conductivity applications, the company has developed process parameters for the production of pure copper parts. Incredibly challenging for laser-based processes due to the […]

Rochester Institute of Technology: Creating Reactive Metal Inks for 3D Printing

In the recently published ‘Three Dimensional Digital Alloying with Reactive Metal Inks,’ author Chaitanya G. Mahajan submitted a dissertation for a PhD at the Kate Gleason College of Engineering at the Rochester Institute of Technology, exploring new ways to 3D print multifunctional components with multiple materials.

Mahajan extensively explores the theory of nanoalloys, including details on core-shell nanoalloys, subcluster nanoalloys, mixed nanoalloys, multishell nanoalloys, along with the factors influencing their structure from strength of atomic bonding to surface energies of bulk elements, atomic size, and more.

The author discusses the variety of nanoalloys, created via a chemical, bottom-up method, as well as a physical top-down method. With bulk metal broken into nanosized particles for the top-down technique, for bottom-up, both atoms and molecules are brought together to construct nanoparticles.

“The main advantage of the top-down approaches is that bulk quantities of nanoparticles can be produced within a short span of time. However, the bottom-up approaches have the advantage of a more homogenous structure with more ordered crystallography within the nanoparticle,” states Mahajan.

The author explains that many applications use alloy nanoparticles; for example, they are employed in biomedical applications for in vivo and in vitro studies. Such materials exhibiting shape-memory effect will be even more useful.

Metal inks are used either with nanoparticles (top-down) or metal-organic decomposition (bottom-up approach) precursor inks, with the active material comprised of a nanoparticle suspension.

Top-down and bottom-up approaches for the synthesis of nanoparticles

“Additives such as surfactants are added to modify the surface tension of the ink, whereas dispersants are added to avoid agglomeration of the nanoparticles in the carrier solvent. To get rid of the carrier solvent, the printed pattern is thermally sintered to form a metallic layer,” stated the author.

Schematic overview of different approaches to form a metallic structure onto a substrate

Here, Mahajan presents a binary copper-nickel system to form an alloy with metal precursor inks, avoiding the typical clogging issues found with nanoparticle suspensions.

For this study, both copper and nickel inks were created for the purpose of inkjet printing, with reduction examined under a range of conditions. Both metal and alloy were then characterized using:

Thermal analysis
Infrared spectroscopy
Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS)
X-ray diffraction

“To achieve a homogeneous alloy formation, the copper phase and the nickel rich phase were diffused together at high temperatures,” stated the author. “Copper nickel alloy inks with ratios Cu30Ni70, Cu50Ni50, and Cu70Ni30 were formulated and reduced at 230 °C and later high-temperature diffusion was achieved at 800 °C.

“The lattice parameter of the alloy phase for the inks with ratio Cu30Ni70 was 3.5533Å, Cu50Ni50 was 3.5658 Å, and Cu70Ni30 was 3.5921 Å. Using Vegard’s law, the composition of the alloy phases for the three samples was estimated to be Cu32Ni68, Cu46Ni54, and Cu75Ni25. This formation of the desired alloy composition can open the door to numerous applications in the biomedical and electronics sectors, among others.

No segregations were seen for the samples that were sintered in vacuum and in the inert atmosphere; however, XRD analysis of the sintered alloy demonstrated both copper and bimetallic copper-nickel phases.

“To print a part with desired alloy composition, each layer can be printed and reduced over and over to build up a 3D structure. The final printed 3D part can be placed in a high-temperature furnace to achieve diffusion and form a homogenous alloy structure,” concluded the author.

“As the weight percentage of copper and nickel in the precursor inks presented were 6.5% and 4.5 % respectively, the number of printing and reducing steps increases to print a 3D part. The printing time can be reduced by increasing the drop volume of the ink or by increasing the solid content of the ink.”

3D printing has not only sparked innovation around the world, but also the study of materials—and especially inks—from direct ink writing to fiber ink, and even chocolate ink.

What do you think of this news? Let us know your thoughts! Join the discussion of this and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com.

Schematic illustration of printing a Ni precursor ink and sintering it in presence of homogeneous magnetic field to reduce the nickel complex to aligned nanowires. Reproduced from [23] licensed under CC by 4.0

[Source / Images: ‘Three Dimensional Digital Alloying with Reactive Metal Inks’]

The post Rochester Institute of Technology: Creating Reactive Metal Inks for 3D Printing appeared first on 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing.

Your Copper Questions, Answered

A few weeks ago, we added a brand new material to our material portfolio: Copper. This was an exciting new addition for us, adding more depth to our line-up of metals. We’ve seen a lot of positive feedback from our community, as well as a lot of questions. So, here’s a quick FAQ that covers all the basics you need to know about Copper!

How big an object can I order in Copper?

The maximum bounding box is 89 x 89 x 100 mm

How accurate will the physical object be to my 3D model?

Geometry may vary between 3D models and printed parts by ±0.125mm in any dimension

How do you 3D print copper?

3D models are transformed into copper objects through lost wax casting. First, the 3D model is printed in a high resolution wax material. Plaster is poured over the 3D printed wax which creates a mold when the wax melts out of the plaster. The mold is then filled with molten copper and left to cool and solidify. Breaking the plaster mold reveals a solid copper part which is cleaned and polished to remove any sharp scraps leaving a natural buffed shiny finish. Additional hand polishing is also available to give parts a mirror like shine.

What properties make copper unique?

Copper has good thermal and electrical conductivity. It heats quickly and evenly, making it good for applications in heat exchangers and it’s one of the most efficient metals in conducting electricity. The surface of any copper object will begin to oxidize once it comes in contact with air or other chemicals. This oxidation will alter the surface appearance as a brown, green, and/or blue patina develops on the surface of the part. However, this oxidation will stop at the surface, creating a boundary layer which prevents corrosion from penetrating the surface of the part. The oxidation process cannot be prevented but it can be accelerated by exposing the part to various chemicals depending on the desired patina color. Some people may not want to decorative items to oxidize, while others prefer the look of the patina.

Is this material infused with other metals?

No, this material is 100% copper.

Will a design that’s printable in copper, be printable in other Shapeways cast metals?

Yes, Gold, Silver, Brass, Bronze, Platinum, Gold Plated Brass, and Rhodium Plated Brass all have the same design guidelines. Interlocking parts are the only exception which are currently only printable in Silver, Brass, and Bronze.

What finishes are available?

Copper is available in a Natural finish, as well as a Polished finish if you’re looking for a smoother, shinier surface.

Want to learn more? Head over to our materials page for all the details, or upload your model today and try printing in Copper for yourself!

The post Your Copper Questions, Answered appeared first on Shapeways Magazine.

Introducing Our Latest Metal Material: Copper

3D printing isn’t all about plastic. While we at Shapeways offer our customers a wide variety of cutting-edge plastics, we have always been committed to providing access to the highest quality and variety of materials, including metals. Currently Shapeways customers can print their products in Steel, Bronze, Gold, Silver, or Platinum. Today, we are excited to expand our offerings by adding another material to to our cast metal family: Copper.

Copper is a precious metal that can be used in a wide variety of applications due to its unique properties. Copper’s initial appearance takes on an orange-red metallic color but eventually darkens by turning green in color through oxidation This chemical reaction forms a protective layer on its surface making Copper highly resistant to corrosion and biofouling. While oxidation can create an antiqued appearance that may be desirable it for creating ornamented and unique jewelry, Copper is most suitable for marine and aerospace applications and use in other harsh environments. It also has antiseptic properties which protects marine organisms, making it an environmentally friendly material for undersea mechanisms like desalination devices and offshore drilling mechanisms.

Copper is also an excellent material for thermal and electrical conductivity. Because of its ability to heat quickly with a uniform heating profile, Copper is commonly used in heat exchangers. Combining 3D printing and lost wax casting, our Copper manufacturing process is capable of producing creative new geometries that take advantage of the material properties for inventive industrial applications and unique decorative pieces.

Copper is available in both Natural and Polished finishes. Want to see if Copper is right for your next project? Chat with our Material Expert team here, or for an instant quote upload your 3D model here.

The post Introducing Our Latest Metal Material: Copper appeared first on Shapeways Magazine.

Protolabs launches service for 3D printed copper parts

Protolabs, an award-winning on-demand manufacturing provider, has launched a copper 3D printing service, where it is now offering copper parts produced by additive manufacturing as well as CNC machining. By providing this service, Protolabs is looking to fill a gap in market for copper part suppliers, which are often prototyped or produced using CNC machining. […]

Interview With 3DInductors About 3D Printing Pure Copper Induction Coils With EBM

Recently we told you about 3DInductors. This is a new service that lets you 3D print pure copper induction coils. 3DInductors was developed by GH Induction which is a part of GH Group, based in Valencia Spain and one of the market leaders in induction heating. The company developed its own technology application for 3D printing copper based on EBM (Electron Beam Welding). This is a complex process to work with and dial in for manufacturing. In addition, copper 3D printing has been attempted before by many players only for them to find out that it is much more difficult than they think. Of the players that say that say can do it right now precious few are actually able to deliver parts at scale. What’s more, the 3DInductors team is the first to do this for EBM. Also, it is the first company able to 3D print pure copper. It’s incredibly innovative that the GH Group would go through the significant lengths to develop their own technology and then to launch a direct to customer “start up/separate brand/skunkworks” type of play to bring it to market. I think that this really shows a very fruitful path for staid and large companies to innovate.

A 3D Printed Pure Copper Induction Coil

Induction coils are used to heat conductive metals in order to harden them via induction heating. Traditionally they were made by hand but the design freedom was limited. With 3DCoil 3DInductors opens up the design space for these parts. Lower inventory and lower TCO are just some of the benefits. A very exciting thing, however, is that due to the 3D printing process the parts last up to four times longer than the traditionally made ones. The combination of these factors may see the induction heating industry forever changed.

The company uses 99.99% copper and has a very high 99.7% recycling rate. They’ve already shipped over 400 of these 3D printed coils to customers including large automotive firms such as Renault. They also 3D print quenches to go with your induction coils. The business case for this looks very solid indeed and I love innovation such as this. We reached out to the firm with more questions and Concepción (do call her Inma) Sánchez was kind enough to answer them.

Why did you turn to 3D printing?

In induction metal parts heating, coils and inductors are the core of the process. They are the end tool where the magnetic process affecting the part, or material to be heated, occurs.

After more than a century in which the dominant manufacturing process has been mainly based, upon joining technologies such as brazing or soldering, skilled coppersmithing has been the safeguard of the quality with unique knowledge and know-how. The use of fixtures, mandrels, and machined parts has improved the repeatability and quality of the produced elements but high volume, dimensional repeatability has always been a source of problems.

All manufacturers are working continuously on the improvement of such relatively artisanal methods to allow better lifetime, minimized production time and overall better quality.

GH Induction is always looking for new technologies that benefit directly to our customers. This is our main added value.

Why copper?

The raw material for inductors is copper because it is the ideal for induction heat treatment in metal parts.

Copper represents the best compromise between electrical conductivity, mechanical properties, and cost. Other material could be used but either do not match cost limitation or mechanical properties.

Was it difficult to develop a copper process?

It really was.

GH Induction performed tests and developments with the available technologies before taking a decision on LBM (Laser Beam Melting) or EBM (Electron Beam Melting). We obtained better results (melting rate, porosity level) with EBM while using copper powder than with LBM (beam reflection problem, Argon trapped). In addition, considering an industrial production approach, the EBM technology allows to stack parts one above the other.

Then we had to develop from scratch EBM with pure copper manufacturing method. That didn’t exist before with EBM (Electron Beam Melting) printing technology.

Only titanium and cobalt-chrome printing for demanding applications in mechanical properties like orthopedic implants and aerospace parts were developed so far.

GH Induction together with a research center took some years to develop the process with pure copper material.

The solution was so innovative that we have been able to patent it. We are working with it for 5 years now and we commercialize it for almost 3 years now.

It is a breakthrough in the industrial induction heating sector.

An EBM Build Plate with pure copper

What machines do you run it on?

We have several machines, all based upon Electron Beam Melting technology which utilize a high power electron beam that generates the energy needed for high melting capacity and high productivity. The electron beam is managed by electromagnetic coils providing extremely fast and accurate beam control that allows several melt pools to be maintained simultaneously (MultiBeam). The process takes place in vacuum and at high temperature, resulting in stress relieved components with material properties better than cast and comparable to forged material. Our method based on EBM is the only 3D printing method able to print pure copper. The service life is much longer, the density is higher minimizing leakages and the mechanical and electrical properties are better. LBM techniques use copper alloys and they present intrinsic drawback when considering the manufacturing of coil with pure copper:

· Limited transformation of the energy into efficient melting due to the refraction of the beam on copper
· Post treatment needed due to created stress within the part
· Risk of pollution of the element (no vacuum)
· Use of an additional element to improve powder bonding remains as one important question mark.

Do you use pure copper? Other materials?

Only pure copper at the moment but we are always researching.

Copper alloys are not suitable because the alloy elements must be removed in order to avoid rusting creation of inclusion or compound which makes the manufacturing process more complex.

A Flame Brazing Coil

What are the advantages of 3D printing copper for your parts?

The inductor is an end effector where take place the creation of the magnetic field required for the induction heating effect. That means it follows the contour of the part we want to heat. The advantage of printing copper is that we can manage complex design that before were extremely or impossible to do with a more classical method (brazed elements).

In addition, we translate directly into the printer the CAD deign we have engineered. It includes shape changes that we believe allow to obtain the best efficiency in terms of pattern and magnetic precision.

We should not forget that an inductor is a tube shaped into the form we want to give it. Tubular section variation is needed since high power density flows onto the surface and requires cooling in most cases and we are in the vicinity of a part which can top at more than 1000 deg C.

Another aspect of that technology is the high reproducibility which allows the end-user to swap inductors with no or limited setting. That brings a clear gain in time.

Schematic of the EBM Process.

How does 3D printing extend the service life of the components?

The traditional method to manufacture copper coils is to join empty copper tubes segments by brazing. These coils must be cooled to withstand the high currency flowing through them. Mechanical fatigue results with the contraction and retraction cycles due to the magnetic forces onto the copper surface during the heating phases. Then the brazed joints in a coil/inductor assembly are often the weakest points and the initiation point of the coil destruction. Using 3D printing the coil is created as a single 3D piece without brazed joints increasing dramatically the lifespan.

We have seen improvements of over 400%. However, we see an average increase higher than 100% in most cases

In addition, the design is modelled through the 3D CAD software optimizing both outer and inner design:

reducing the points with higher current density (hot spots)
improving coil cooling by changing the geometric characteristics of the inductors
Manufacturing process carried out in a vacuum atmosphere in order to avoid porosity and rusting.
High dimensional accuracy process that allows identical coil copies.
These inductors can be repaired just like the traditional ones.

How many parts do you make?

We have already hundreds of 3D inductors in-field. Depending on the induction application, meaning type of part to heat and process, we can reach different results but always better. For instance, in an automotive driveline case we get 400% more lifespan.

Imagine the operational savings for the customer:

Dramatic decrease of their part production cost
Extreme reduction of production stoppages
Less inventory

How does geometric freedom help your part performance?

There are cases where the main benefit is the ability of adaptation to the part to be heated. In these cases the conventional brazed coils for mechanical reasons cannot fit to the part for optimum heat treatment. Another big benefit is the capability to improve continuously an original coil design once it is under production. Depending on production results, inner or outer coil modifications can be introduced to improve them.

Why is this such a good fit with inductors?

No brazed joints and total design coil flexibility
Total adaptation to the part to be heated
Design continuous improvement
High dimensional repeatability
Assembled inductors cost is sometimes more economic due to the reduction of the labor needed.

Who uses your products?

Industrial manufactures from any sector using heating processes like heat treatment (hardening, tempering, …), brazing, welding, straightening, etc.
The GH 3D inductors are highly recommended to high volume productions as automotive industry and when complex parts need to be treated.

What is the goal of your business?

To be a reference in our induction heating sector and to become a global 3D inductor provider for any induction machine or system.

What kinds of companies would you be interested in working with?

With any that can clearly benefit from our technology and experience because upgrading the traditional inductors to 3D is more than printing. Experience in induction and in 3D coils is mandatory.

Research Group Creates 3D Printed Sensor that Changes Color When Exposed to Wet Conditions

In the dry state (left; in an anhydrous liquid), the sensor material is purple; in the wet state (e.g. from air humidity) it turns blue. These 3D printed workpieces are each about one centimeter wide. [Image: Verónica García Vegas, UAM]

A collaborative group of scientists from the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM), the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, the Institute for Materials Science in Madrid (ICMM-CSIC), and the Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY) worked together to develop a versatile 3D printable sensor, made of an inexpensive plastic-composite, that can detect tiny amounts of water and change color in wet conditions.

The team, led by UAM’s Pilar Amo-Ochoa, developed the flexible, non-toxic material, which will change from purple to blue when exposed to moisture, and detailed their work in a research paper, titled “3D Printing of a Thermo- and Solvatochromic Composite Material Based on a Cu(II)–Thymine Coordination Polymer with Moisture Sensing Capabilities,” that was recently published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials.

The abstract reads, “This work presents the fabrication of 3D‐printed composite objects based on copper(II) 1D coordination polymer (CP1) decorated with thymine along its chains with potential utility as an environmental humidity sensor and as a water sensor in organic solvents. This new composite object has a remarkable sensitivity, ranging from 0.3% to 4% of water in organic solvents. The sensing capacity is related to the structural transformation due to the loss of water molecules that CP1 undergoes with temperature or by solvent molecules’ competition, which induces significant change in color simultaneously. The CP1 and 3D printed materials are stable in air over 1 year and also at biological pHs (5–7), therefore suggesting potential applications as robust colorimetric sensors. These results open the door to generate a family of new 3D printed materials based on the integration of multifunctional coordination polymers with organic polymers.”

3D printed sensors have many potential uses, such as cardiac research, an early warning system for wildfires, and other water-related applications, like determining how much water a plant is using. But the demand is increasing across many industries for responsive sensors that can quickly change, in a simple way, when they are exposed to specific molecules…such as water, which is one of the most common chemicals monitored by these types of sensors.

“Understanding how much water is present in a certain environment or material is important. For example, if there is too much water in oils they may not lubricate machines well, whilst with too much water in fuel, it may not burn properly,” explained scientist Michael Wharmby, a co-author of the paper and head of DESY’s beamline P02.1.

DESY, a national research center in Germany, operates particle accelerators, and the team examined their new sensor material with the X-ray light source PETRA III at Wharmby’s beamline. Using X-rays to investigate the material allowed the team to better understand the internal structural changes that water triggers, which lead to the color change.

Additionally, these high energy X-rays revealed that the functional part of the material – the versatile copper-based coordination polymer – was in fact working.

José Ignacio Martínez, a co-author of the paper from ICMM-CSIC, said, “Having understood this, we were able to model the physics of this change.”

This compound, known as CP1, consists of a water molecule that’s bound to a central copper atom. Once the sample is heated i[ to a certain temperature, the water molecule is removed, which then leads to the material going through a reversible structural reorganization that ultimately causes the color to change.

“On heating the compound to 60 degrees Celsius, it changes colour from blue to purple. This change can be reversed by leaving it in air, putting it in water, or putting it in a solvent with trace amounts of water in it,” explained Amo-Ochoa.

Front and side views of the computed optimal geometries for the compound CP1

Then the team mixed the copper compound into a 3D printing ink, which they used to 3D print sensors in a variety of different shapes. The sensors were tested in the air, and also with solvents that contained different amounts of water, which revealed that the porous objects were even more sensitive than the compound itself to the presence of water.

The 3D printed sensors were able to detect 0.3 to 4% of water in solvents in less than two minutes, while they could detect a relative humidity of 7% in air. If the material is dried, either through heating or in a water-free solvent, it will return to purple. The team’s research showed that the material will remain stable over many heating cycles, and that it remains stable in the air for at least one year, at biologically relevant pH ranges of 5 to 7. Additionally, the copper compounds are shown to be evenly distributed throughout each sensors.

Co-author Shlomo Magdassi from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem said that the team’s concept could eventually be used to create additional functional materials in the future, for use in a wide range of industries.

“This work shows the first 3D printed composite objects created from a non-porous coordination polymer. It opens the door to the use of this large family of compounds that are easy to synthesize and exhibit interesting magnetic, conductive and optical properties, in the field of functional 3D printing,” said co-author Félix Zamora from UAM.

Co-authors of the paper are Noelia Maldonado, Verónica G. Vegas, Oded Halevi, Martínez, Pooi See Lee, Magdassi, Wharmby, Ana E. Platero-Prats, Consuelo Moreno, Zamora, and Amo-Ochoa.

Discuss this research and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com or share your thoughts in the Facebook comments below.

[Source: EurekAlert]