The ODK Center for Additive Technologies has mastered the printing of a complex plastic part from two materials at once, automatically changing them during the construction process. This approach allows combining different mechanical properties in one product and, according to CAT specialists, reduces its cost by 2.5 times by reducing the consumption of expensive material.
An experimental part measuring 23×25 cm and weighing 165 g was manufactured to demonstrate the technology. In the most stressed lower part, rigid fiberglass plastic was used, while the upper part was made of ordinary impact-resistant material, which tolerates deformation better. The 3D printer automatically switches between materials at a specified printing stage.
The key idea of the method is not to make the entire part from a material with maximum characteristics. If increased strength is required only for a specific area, expensive reinforced plastic can be left where the main load is applied to the structure, and other areas can be printed with a more affordable material.
CAT specialists note that this principle allows selecting a combination of stiffness and mass for a specific design. According to the center's specialists, in the demonstrated case, the cost was reduced by 2.5 times due to the reduction in the consumption of expensive material throughout the entire volume of the product.
The Center for Additive Technologies is part of ODK and is engaged not only in training 3D printing specialists but also in implementing additive technologies in industrial production. In particular, ODK previously reported on the use of such methods in the creation of parts for PD-8, PD-14, and the promising PD-35 aircraft engines.