Prodways developing a new metal 3D printing technology
October 19, 2016
Prodways, headquartered in Les Mureaux, France, has announced it is developing a new metal 3D printing process using metal powder combined with organic binders. The company’s R&D team has been collaborating on the project for two years with France’s CEA-LITEN and the first successful production of titanium parts using this new process has just been announced.
Prodways claims that if it were to be ramped up to series production scale this new technology would offer substantial advantages compared to the highest performance methods currently in use. The technology is said to offer a printing process that is up to five times faster than direct metal 3D printing and has the ability to work with all types of metals (including titanium, inconel, cobalt-chrome, etc.).
“We are still facing numerous challenges in development, but this first successful production, result of a two year research study, is a major step forward,” the company added.
Prodways obtained its first conclusive results in refining the process by using MOVINGLight® technology, a photopolymerization process for producing prototypes or functional parts with very high resolution and at very high speeds, by polymerising the photosensitive resins. Prodways is also developing new resins that can optimise this technology for casting metal parts. This indirect process, which is often used in the aeronautic and automotive industries, is currently being tested at several leading companies in these sectors.
