Enabling Functional Additive Manufacturing with Novel Large Format Printers

This project will create the largest 3D printer of its type ever made, enabling high speed production of multiple items at low cost. This printer will exploit technology that allows the use of normal LCD screens to cure successive layers of resin, building up the 3D object more quickly and energy efficiently than competitive technologies. LCD screens have increased in resolution and reduced in price signifcantly in recent years. This enables large format 3D printers to now be economically attractive. In turn, this opens new opportunities for additive manufacturing in much higher volumes, dramatically reducing the cost of manufacture for each component. The proposed materials innovation will further improve the quality, strength and toughness of printed parts. This will enable them to be used in everyday mass produced products whilst being custom-made. This project will transform current 3D manufacturing, moving it from a high priced niche area to a fast, low cost solution suitable for industrial manufacture. Benefits are lower transportation costs, inventory levels and energy requirements, improving the competitiveness of UK manufacturing. For the first time, it will enable engineers, designers and entrepreneurs to create and manufacture their own custom products economically.