Manufacturing Process for 3D Printing with Glass and Eggshells
The Hand and Machine research group at the University of New Mexico has made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of 3D printing, demonstrating the use of paste extrusion 3D printers to print with unconventional materials such as glass and eggshells.
The process begins with creating a clay-like paste from powdered materials, binders, and water. For glass, a combination of glass frit, methyl cellulose, and xanthan gum is used as binders, while eggshells are ground into a powder and mixed with the same binders and water.
To print with glass, a vacuum chamber is used to remove bubbles before extruding the paste from a clay 3D printer. Once printed, the parts are dried and then kiln-fired at around 750 °C to burn off the binders and sinter the glass particles, producing solid glass parts. This firing causes some controllable shrinkage, allowing for the creation of decorative and potentially functional glass items after post-processing.
The eggshell parts follow a similar process, with the printed parts not requiring any additional processing after drying. The major advantage of these biodegradable parts is their biodegradability, as demonstrated by printing a biodegradable pot for plants.
Researchers have also developed custom software (slicers) to optimize extrusion paths to minimize material leakage and maintain wall thickness to prevent collapse during firing. This is particularly important for glass parts, as collapsing walls could lead to defects in the final product.
In the realm of possibilities, it's even possible to print glass using a laser cutter. However, the paste extrusion method offers more control over the final product, particularly in terms of wall thickness and shrinkage.
The team has previously used a paste printer to 3D print in metal. The research on eco-friendly 3D printing with biowaste materials, such as eggshells, is an exciting area of exploration, with potential applications in agriculture and other sectors where biodegradable materials are needed.
For those interested in delving deeper into this fascinating topic, reviewing the research papers and supplemental materials linked in the Hackaday articles is a great starting point. Studying paste extrusion flow dynamics literature and considering alternative paste extrusion solutions are also valuable avenues for further exploration.
In conclusion, the Hand and Machine group at the University of New Mexico is pushing the boundaries of 3D printing technology with their innovative work in paste extrusion 3D printing, offering exciting possibilities for the future of sustainable and versatile 3D printing.
[1] Hackaday Article 1 [2] Hackaday Article 2 [3] ArXiv Paper on Lubrication Layers [4] Research on Eco-friendly 3D Printing with Biowaste [5] Custom Slicer Development for Paste Extrusion 3D Printing
Technology has opened new avenues for 3D printing, as demonstrated by the Hand and Machine group at the University of New Mexico, who have designed paste extrusion 3D printers capable of printing with unconventional materials like glass and eggshells. These nouveau methods in 3D printing technology offer exciting possibilities for the future of sustainable and versatile printing.
