Kinki University will start joint research with Shimadzu Corporation Group's Shimadzu Industrial Machinery Systems, S.Lab, and Daiichi Ceramo's three equipment and component manufacturers to establish domestic metal 3D printer technology.With the aim of establishing technology that applies the MEX method (material extrusion lamination method), which is mainly used for resins, to metals, we aim to popularize domestic products in the field of 3D printers, which have many overseas products.
According to Kinki University, 3D printers began to be used in the manufacturing industry in the 2000s, and have been used for metal processing in addition to resin from the beginning.Most metal 3D printers use the PBF method (powder bed melting bond method), which forms by melting the spread metal powder with a laser, but recently, the MEX method, which is the mainstream of resin, has attracted attention. The MEX method is a method in which the resin mixed with metal powder is melted and then the resin is removed. It does not require complicated equipment, is quick to model, and can handle large objects.
In the joint research, under the guidance of Professor Hideki Kyogoku of Kinki University's Institute for Next-Generation Fundamental Technology, the pelletized material of Daiichi Ceramo was molded with S. Lab's metal 3D printer, and Shimadzu Industrial Machinery Systems Co., Ltd. Sinter in a small vacuum degreasing sintering furnace.
We will work to find the optimum processing conditions for each material and improve metal 3D printer technology, and establish know-how that allows us to easily manufacture 3D metal products without having specialized knowledge.
