Opportunity for SME companies to profit from 3D print technology developments at Brightlands Materials Center
Brightlands Materials Center is developing several technologies that aim to bring 3D printing to the next level. The advantages of additive manufacturing – high design freedom, no cost customization and local production, cost effective small and medium series manufacturing – thus come within reach of interested companies.
Successful results have been shown on lab scale and Brightlands Materials Center is looking for new and promising use cases and business cases initiated by industry. The goal is to develop these cases jointly.
The technologies that Brightlands Materials Center has under development include:
“Improvement for z-strength by our newly developed B-Right technology”
It improves mechanical strength of 3D printed parts especially in the z-direction. We tested it on polyamide 6 filled with 30 wt% glass fiber in our German RepRap X500 and were able to gain an almost three times increase in tensile strength in z-direction. The B-Right technology principally is applicable to all types of Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) printers and to many materials.
“Lightweight products based on continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastics”
- We are for example collaborating with GKN Fokker to evaluate Additive Manufacturing with Continuous Fibers for production of smaller aerospace parts where mechanical strength, weight and overall costs are important. The benefits of the technology for GKN Fokker are the ability to make functional components in a relatively early stage of the design process of for example an airplane wing. This can be done with shorter lead times and at lower costs because no expensive injection moulds need to be made. As model component a sensor rod has been chosen that is part of the movable parts of an airplane’s wings. Brightlands Materials Center and GKN Fokker are investigating the materials, design, process and type of printer.
- Another example is the 100% Limburg Bike Project. We are a partner in this project. Our role is to 3D print the lugs with continuous fiber additive manufacturing technology, which are key parts of the frame to customize the bicycle size to each individual user.
“Self-sensing of 3D printed parts and components to measure dynamic use conditions”
Self-sensing is the ability of a material to sense its own condition. The material itself is used as a sensor. Advantage is that you don’t need an implanted or attached sensor system. The costs are lower, the durability is higher, the sensing volume is bigger and the mechanical property loss is lower.
In our workshop we will introduce these technologies
We will jointly identify for which challenges, products or applications these might offer an opportunity or solution. We will look at existing solutions, missing links, business cases and possible development trajectories.The goal for the workshop will be to identify concrete use and business cases for participants and possible innovation routes including specific 3D printing related subsidy options. The focus will be on finding new opportunities and new applications, cost reductions, efficiency and sustainability improvements for the participants.
The approach we aim for is to accelerate technology development based on concrete companies needs.
Date: June 24th 2020
Time: 13.00 – 17.00
The workshop is a unique chance for SME companies
You will be one of the first in your market or industry to exploit the advantages of these new technologies. Participation to the workshop is on invitation only. For more information, please contact Richard Janssen, Business Development Manager Additive Manufacturing.