Description:
Abstract
USC researchers have developed reusable and automatic supports for use in 3D printers. This invention allows for fewer printed supports during the manufacturing process, thereby reducing print time for techniques including fused deposition modeling and stereolithography. The supports come a standardized size, similar to Lego blocks, and they will allow manufacturers to drastically reduce their material consumption and fabrication time.
Benefit
Market Application
The current 3D printing struggles with overhangs, resulting in the need for additional support structures that slow down printing speed, waste materials, and require extra post-processing efforts. Existing solutions rely on geometry-based supports, necessitating reliability or material efficiency trade-offs. Reusable supports are one solution that could reduce printing and post-processing time significantly. This would allow for more efficient and sustainable 3D printing solutions, catering to industries seeking faster, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly fabrication methods.
Publications
Reusable support for additive manufacturing, Xu et al., 2021.
Other
Stage of Development
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Experimentally validated
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Available for licensing