Formnext, the international exhibition for additive manufacturing, 3D printing, and mold making, has established itself as an excellent business platform for rapid prototyping, 3D printing, mold manufacturers, and their suppliers to connect with target customers.
As we previewed before the exhibition (watch the video here), this year's exhibition in Germany has concluded successfully. 3DMart certainly wouldn't miss this international 3D printing event. Now, follow our special correspondent to explore the latest breakthroughs in 3D printing technology!
The exhibition venue was vast, spanning two floors, and some of the setups made you feel like you'd traveled to the future. Hundreds of companies competed, each showcasing their most impressive machines and technologies.
．Innovations in Common 3D Printing Technologies
There are many forms of 3D printing. Currently, in addition to industrial, jewelry, and dental applications, SLA resin 3D printing technology also produces more intricate and complex finished products. The thin, delicate textures and curved petal shapes are very exquisite and impressive.
In addition, a series of colored 3D printed products were exhibited, using a powder jetting principle to selectively spray colored ink during printing, creating different color fusions. It can also print black and white or transparent products, such as medical anatomical models.
This technology is also widely demonstrated in architectural models, character figurines, custom glasses, and more.
The latest 3D printed electric car that we previously shared also appeared at the Polymaker booth. All white body parts were made with 3D printing. For more details and videos, check here: Polymaker & XEV Jointly Create 3D Printed Electric Car – LSEV.
At the same time, Polymaker also publicly displayed Polycast for casting, a fully meltable 3D printing filament. After completing the model with a 3D printer, metal components can be produced through investment casting! Compared to traditional manual mold making, this process can be simplified to 2-3 steps, greatly improving efficiency and saving time and money. 3DMart will also be selling Polycast in the future, so stay tuned!
There was also a complete scene model made with the Polysmooth series, which can be alcohol polished. Alcohol polishing eliminates 3D printing layer lines, making the surface smoother and enhancing its texture.
The renowned desktop SLS 3D printer manufacturer Sinterit was not to be outdone. In addition to many movable mechanical samples, they also had a press-button product comparison chart for visitors to try out! 3DMart will also be synchronously releasing the latest super soft Flexa Soft powder soon. Get a head start and learn more: 5 Major Features of the New Flexa Soft Powder.
In addition to various unique prints, we even saw other manufacturers independently producing external moisture-proof boxes specifically for the Ultimaker series. As Ultimaker's market share has continued to grow in recent years, it has spurred the development of a peripheral market, much like the iPhone and iPhone case industry ecosystem. More third-party accessories will be released in the future.
A wide variety of products manufactured using 3D printers were on display, blooming like a hundred flowers. Drones, which have become popular worldwide in recent years, can also be manufactured using 3D printing. Both their visual appearance and structural strength can withstand scrutiny.
．CNC combined with Additive Manufacturing
Traditional CNC milling is based on the concept of subtraction, removing excess material to obtain the final object. This robotic arm, however, reverses this process for 3D printing, adding material layer by layer according to the object's shape, thus eliminating the need for support structures. Although the current technology has limited precision and high cost, we believe this concept will mature in the future.
．Metal 3D Printing Technology
The highly anticipated metal 3D printing also shone brightly. HP, a major brand in planar printers, also entered the 3D printer battlefield, developing metal printing in addition to the aforementioned color printing. The current method involves printing with metal powder and binder, then melting it at high temperatures in an oven. The current shrinkage rate is 18%, and we are eager to see the results of subsequent improvements.
Many manufacturers at the exhibition also showcased all-metal brake calipers, some processed by CNC, others directly 3D printed in metal. Some models were exactly like ours. If you are interested in learning how to go from 3D printing to mold casting, you can refer to our article: Metal Casting of Brake Calipers Released!
Finally, let's take a look at the latest metal 3D printed exhibits and equipment. While some large metal powder 3D prints have limited precision, these super-large processing equipment can repair fractured or partially damaged metal structures, such as ship propellers or large machinery. This effectively saves the high cost of re-ordering due to minor damage in the past.
The ultra-fine metal prototypes 3D printed in other forms are very exquisite. By replacing solid bodies with internal structural designs, they achieve multiple benefits such as robustness, lightness, and material saving. The internal and external transparent models shown in the photos exhibit astonishing effects.
This Formnext exhibition was truly eye-opening, with 3D printing technology advancing with each passing day. 3DMart will keep abreast of the latest technologies, expand into more fields, and continue to share relevant knowledge and first-hand information with everyone. We will also be introducing new materials and conducting 3D printing tests soon. Follow our Facebook page to stay updated on the latest 3D technologies: https://www.facebook.com/3dmart.com.tw/