The process takes a very intense energy source, such as a focused laser or electron beam, that moves across a bed of metal powder, defining an object’s architecture in a single layer by fusing powder particles together. Washington: Researchers have developed a new inexpensive method to 3D print metallic objects such as batteries, fuel cells and parts for rockets and airplanes, using rust and metal powders.Then, the researchers fused the powders by heating the structures in a simple furnace in a process called sintering, where powders merge together without melting. The new method completely bypasses the powder bed and energy beam approach as well as uncouples the two-step process of printing the structure and fusing its layers. Any unfused powder is subsequently removed, which prevents certain architectures, such as those that are hollow and enclosed, from being created.Rust powder is lighter, more stable, cheaper, and safer to handle than pure iron powders.New powder is placed on top on Custom Metal Conjugate Ring the previous layer, and these steps are repeated to create a 3D object.
By creating liquid ink made of metal or mixed metal powders, solvents, and an elastomer binder, Shah was able to rapidly print densely packed powder structures using a simple syringe-extrusion process, in which ink dispenses through a nozzle, at room temperature. It could also be used for on-site manufacturing that bypasses the sometimes slow-moving supply chain.Conventional methods for 3D printing metallic structures are both time and cost intensive. Conventional methods for 3D printing metallic structures are both time and cost intensive.This method is also significantly limited by the types of compatible metals and alloys that can be used.The research was published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials. “This is exciting because most advanced manufacturing methods being used for metallic printing are limited as far as which metals and alloys can be printed and what types of architecture can be created,” said Ramille Shah, assistant professor Northwestern University, who led the study.The method can be used to print metal oxides
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