American engineers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a method for rapid 3D printing from fused aluminum (LMP), which allows the production of metal frames in a few minutes. With its help, you can produce furniture bases and larger parts. The results of the research were officially published Web site MYTH.
The technology involves applying liquid metal to a base of small glass beads. Aluminum hardens rapidly and acquires a three-dimensional structure.
Researchers have developed a machine that melts aluminum at 700°C, captures the molten metal and feeds it through a nozzle at high speeds. Large-scale parts can be printed in just a few seconds.
According to the authors of the development, LMP is at least 10 times faster than other three-dimensional metal printing methods, and the melting procedure they created turned out to be more effective than other methods.
LMP compensates for its speed and scale with the lower resolution of the finished parts. In addition to manufacturing structural components, the method can also be used to quickly produce test prototypes using recycled materials or scrap metal.
During the experiment, MIT experts printed table and chair frames from aluminum. The resulting products were strong enough to withstand milling and other machining processes.
Previous scientists was created A flexible snake robot that prints its body on an onboard 3D printer.