3DCeram’s Printing Solution: Towards the Industrialization of Ceramic Additive Manufacturing

French manufacturer 3DCeram Sinto announces the launch of the C101 EASY ceramic 3D printer. This new model is ideal for creating prototypes and parts quickly for universities, research centers, and industry. To be presented for the first time at Formnext 2022 at 3DCeram Sinto’s booth (Hall 11.1, booth C33), this SLA additive manufacturing solution, an optimized version of the previous C100 Easy, is the result of several years of research in order to offer better quality and reliability to users. This new range is joined by two other French solutions, the C1000 FLEXMATIC AND the C3600 ULTIMATIC, which were respectively designed for industrialization and mass customization.

3DCeram was founded in 2001 and has been dedicated to providing reliable additive manufacturing solutions for ceramics. 3DCeram Sinto created a range machines for technical ceramics in 2017, which were highly sought after by sectors like aerospace, investment casting, semiconductor, and biomedical. The company selected stereolithography because it is a process that can achieve high quality. 3DCeram Sinto, driven by innovation, has created three new machines over the past three years. The company has expanded its product range to include technical ceramics like oxides (zirconias, hydroxyapatite and silicore). Aluminum nitride, and silicon nitride are all non-oxides.

A 3D printed piece on the C101 EASY.

The New Ceramic Machine, C101 EASY from 3DCeram Sinto

This year, the French manufacturer will unveil the C101EASY features, a range ceramic machines with a 100x100x150mm printing volume. The C101 EASY EAB FAB is for industrialists and universities. 3DCeram Sinto’s team worked not only on the mechanical components (blades wiper, Z-axis), but also the optical elements, such as the laser, to improve repeatability. Access to the machine’s internals is also made easier by a new door design.

The range comes with a support system for the extraction of uncured clay and a recycle cartridge. To allow production to resume quickly, the cartridge can be removed and replaced easily. The user has the option to choose from different options, such as the SAM (Small amounts of material), which allows users to print with just 10 ml ceramic in 20 minutes. The printer can be transformed into a hybrid solution, which allows you to add material to it.

The C101 EASYLAB

The C101 EASY Lab is ideal for universities and research centres. It can be used to manufacture prototypes, develop and characterize materials, and create slurry. For industrialists the C101EASY FAB is suitable for the production of parts. It’s a good way to start ceramic additive manufacturing and then move onto a more industrial model, such as the C1000 FLXMATIC.

Ceramic Production and Additive Manufacturing

The SLA C1000 FLEXMATIC 3-D printer is also available in 2022. It meets all production requirements. 3DCeram Sinto explains: “Our new 3D printer is a result of a combination of experience and know-how, and its automation capacity and printing surface are what give it its name. The C1000 FLEXMATIC is in fact the sum of the know-how of 3DCeram Sinto’s teams with the objective of simplicity of use in the face of industrial production requirements.”

It is equipped with a plate measuring 320 x320 x 200mm. This allows for the production of small or large quantities. The tank can be easily removed for semi-automated processing. Moreover, the printed parts require very few – if any – printing supports, which saves a lot of time. For increased productivity, the C1000FLEXMATIC can be equipped with an additional laser.

The C1000 FLEXMATIC3D printer can meet your production needs

Achieving Mass Customization Through Ceramic 3D Printering

 3DCeram Sinto provides a large format machine to complete this solution range. Its goal is mass customization. The C3600 ULTIMATE offers a very generous printing volume for an SLA 3D printer – the plate measures 600 x 600 x 300 mm. It is equipped with four lasers, allowing it to design large quantities in record time. It’s 7 times faster that the C101 EASY, and can compete against conventional processes.

On the application side, C3600 ULTIMATE can be found in aerospace and other highly-demanding sectors. For example, it took less than a day to design a satellite mirror with a semi-closed back – a part that could not be produced in any other way than by additive manufacturing. The alumina-green part weighs 7 kilos, and costs 600 euros. Recycling is included.

There are also 3D printed antennas, first designed on the C101 EASY FAB as a prototype – count 90 minutes for one antenna; then mass-produced on the C3600 ULTIMATE – 36 parts printed in 16 hours or less than 27 minutes per antenna. Each antenna measures 79 x 79.5 x 12.5mm.

It is interesting to see how 3DCeram Sinto’s 3D printing solutions complement each other and how the company has succeeded in imagining an ecosystem to meet needs along the entire value chain. Visit its booth C33 in Hall 11.1 at Formnext 202022 to learn more about its solutions or click HERE.

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*All photo credits: 3DCeram Sinto