New Procedure Allows Complex Forms of Glass to Be Made by 3D-Printing
Three-dimensional printing allows extremely small and complex structures to be made even in small series. A method developed at the KIT for the first time allows also glass to be used for this technique. As a consequence of the properties of glass, such as transparency, thermal stability and resistance to acids, the use of this material in 3D-printing opens up manifold new applications in production and research, such as optics, data transmission, and biotechnology. The process is published in “Nature” and also presented at the Hanover Fair.
Glass is one of mankind’s oldest materials. It was used as far back as in ancient Egypt and ancient Rome and has found a place now also in manufacturing technology of the 21st century. An interdisciplinary team at the KIT led by mechanical engineer Dr. Bastian E. Rapp developed a process using glass for additive manufacturing techniques.
The scientists mix nanoparticles of high-purity quartz glass and a small quantity of liquid polymer and allow this mixture to be cured by light at specific points – by means of stereolithog-raphy. The material, which has remained liquid, is washed out in a solvent bath, leaving only the desired cured structure. The polymer still mixed in this glass structure is subsequently removed by heat-ing.
“The shape initially resembles that of a pound cake; it is still unstable, and therefore the glass is sintered in a final step, i.e. heated so that the glass particles are fused,” explains Rapp. He conducts research at the KIT Institute of Microstructure Technology and heads a working group of chemists, electrical engineers, and biologists. The scientists present the method in the “Nature” journal under the title of “Three-dimensional Printing of Transparent Fused Silica Glass.”
Learn more: 3D-Printing of Glass Now Possible
[osd_subscribe categories=’3D-printed-glass’ placeholder=’Email Address’ button_text=’Subscribe Now for any new posts on the topic “3D PRINTED GLASS’]
The Latest on: 3D printed glass
[google_news title=”” keyword=”3D printed glass” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]- Students invent 3D-printed prosthetic arms and explore bee pollination at national STEM competition
There's research on everything from overcoming bias in artificial intelligence to the creation of a $40 3D-printed prosthetic arm. "You can push in a button, lengthen it and it locks back in place," ...
- Nina Dobrev’s Met Gala ‘Glass’ 3D Dress, Explained: A Look Back at Her Most-searched Outfit and More Met Gala Looks Through the Years
Dobrev was invited to the 2013 Met Gala by Monique Lhuillier, who dressed her in an all-black look for the “Punk: Chaos to Couture” exhibit. The star wore a partially sheer netted black jumpsuit, ...
- Innovation Meets Creativity
Artificial intelligence, robots, glass blowing, virtual reality, and performing arts were just a sampling of what thousands of visitors experienced at the 2024 Imagine RIT: Creativity and Innovation ...
- World’s largest 3D printer can print a house in under 80 hours
The University of Maine has unveiled the world's largest 3D printer, a machine capable of printing a house in 80 hours of less.
- AI glasses translate sign language on the fly
Maker Nekhil has built a pair of glasses that translate sign language into spoken language. A Raspberry Pi camera module 3 is used for image recognition in the project. This camera offers a resolution ...
via Google News and Bing News