C101 HYBRID

The C101 HYBRID is a 3D printer produced by 3DCeram, a manufacturer based in France.
It uses the Stereolithography technology to produce alumina, aluminum nitride, hydroxyapatite, silica-based, silicon nitride, tricalcium phosphate, zirconia and ceramics parts using liquid feedstock. It offers a build volume of 100 × 100 × 150 mm.

3D PRINTING WITHOUT SUPPORTS: CERAMIC SLA

Top-down stereolithography allows for printing without supports by building the part from the bottom up as the tray moves down. 3DCeram is capable of producing precise and detailed parts consistently.

The printing material is fed into a cartridge at the start of the printing cycle, making it easy to refill the cartridge during printing.

Additionally, 3DCeram’s top-down stereolithography process is suitable for a wide range of materials, including ceramics and advanced composites, enabling the production of parts with high mechanical and thermal properties.

This technology is particularly well-suited for applications in industries such as aerospace, automotive, and medical, where high-performance and precise parts are required.

APPLICATION

Aerospace hardware

Owing to their exceptional physicochemical properties, including excellent corrosion resistance and electrical insulation, ceramic materials for 3D printing are a significant breakthrough for the aerospace industry, which continually seeks new technological advancements, lighter weight, and shorter development timelines. In this context, ceramics are utilized to enhance the performance of advanced space equipment, such as satellites, measurement devices, optical instruments, and more.

Ceramic foundry cores

Foundry cores play a crucial role in the manufacturing of turbine blades for both aviation and land-based gas turbines. There is currently a growing demand for complex core designs driven by the need for smaller, more efficient, and cost-effective engines that operate at higher temperatures. 3DCeram has developed an optimized method for producing ceramic foundry cores that offers significant advantages over traditional techniques, including reduced build times while improving the cost-per-core ratio.

The requirements for core production encompass high dimensional accuracy, adequate structural strength, appropriate surface roughness, and controlled material porosity. These parameters can be effectively managed through ceramic 3D printing. In addition to saving time and boosting productivity, this approach offers design flexibility, improved responsiveness, consistent quality of the produced cores, and increased profitability for manufacturers.

Biomedical advances

Since 2005, 3DCeram has been at the forefront of developing advanced biomedical solutions. Throughout the years, the company has achieved a level of expertise that fully addresses the needs of the medical field. With a diverse array of ceramic 3D printers and specialized biocompatible materials, 3DCeram possesses all the essential supply chain certifications to implement its innovative technologies across various sectors, including dental, orthopedic, maxillofacial, and plastic surgery.

The company is well-known for producing small batches of bone substitutes, such as intervertebral cages and tibial osteotomy wedges, as well as cranial and jawbone implants. Additive manufacturing allows professionals to precisely control the porosity of these ceramic substitutes. Additionally, 3DCeram has created a unique SLA-based technology called BioCranium, which facilitates the production of custom bioceramic implants.

Expanded industry

Different industrial sectors are increasingly leveraging the distinctive mechanical, electrical, thermal, and chemical properties of technical ceramic materials. 3DCeram’s additive manufacturing technology is gaining traction in areas such as chemistry, oil and gas, water treatment, electronics, automotive, and more.

Ceramic 3D printing streamlines the creation of intricate components that traditional equipment and methods cannot achieve. It minimizes downtime and removes the necessity for costly tooling, which is especially crucial for contemporary businesses and small-scale production. Furthermore, the adaptable design options facilitate rapid and mold-free manufacturing of functional parts.

For the benefit of research

The resistance and diverse properties of ceramic materials—including mechanical, magnetic, thermal, chemical, and electrical characteristics—make them suitable for applications that endure high stress in challenging environments. Similarly, 3DCeram’s highly functional and dependable additive manufacturing machines are contributing to the increasing demand for ceramic 3D printing in research conducted by major research groups and universities.

MATERIALS

Alumina (AI203)
Used more often than any other advanced ceramics. Very good mechanical resistance,electrical resistance, high hardness, corrosion and wear resistance, high operating temperature and chemically and bio- inert.

Zirconia (ZrO2)
Useful in surgical instrumentation and odontology prosthesis (crowns and bridges),porous coating dentistry: material with very good mechanical properties, great hardness,good wear resistance, corrosion resistant.

Silicon Nitride
One of the hardest and most thermally resistant ceramics. The main characteristics of silicon nitride are: low density, excellent resistance to thermal shock, excellent resistance to wear, and low thermal expansion
coefficient.

Cordierite
Cordierite is a magnesium alumina silicate with chemical formula 2MgO.2Al2O3. 5SiO2 Cordierite can be used due to low thermal conductivity and low expansion coefficient, resistance to heat and low dielectric loss.

Aluminium Nitride
The main characteristics of aluminium nitride are: high thermal resistance, excellent electrical insulation and good mechanical strength. Main application of this material is electronic industry

Zirconia 8Y
This material has excellent ionic conductivity and heat insulation properties. Main application of this ceramic material is manufacturing of solid fuel cells.

Alumina (AI203)
Used more often than any other advanced ceramics. Very good mechanical resistance,electrical resistance, high hardness, corrosion and wear resistance, high operating temperature and chemically and bio- inert.

Zirconia (ZrO2)
Useful in surgical instrumentation and odontology prosthesis (crowns and bridges),porous coating dentistry: material with very good mechanical properties, great hardness,good wear resistance, corrosion resistant.

Silicon Nitride
One of the hardest and most thermally resistant ceramics. The main characteristics of silicon nitride are: low density, excellent resistance to thermal shock, excellent resistance to wear, and low thermal expansion
coefficient.

Cordierite
Cordierite is a magnesium alumina silicate with chemical formula 2MgO.2Al2O3. 5SiO2 Cordierite can be used due to low thermal conductivity and low expansion coefficient, resistance to heat and low dielectric loss.

Aluminium Nitride
The main characteristics of aluminium nitride are: high thermal resistance, excellent electrical insulation and good mechanical strength. Main application of this material is electronic industry

Zirconia 8Y
This material has excellent ionic conductivity and heat insulation properties. Main application of this ceramic material is manufacturing of solid fuel cells.

MASS CUSTOMIZATION, MOVE TOWARD WITH ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING

The versatility of 3D printing technology offers unique benefits across various industries, making it an intriguing and adaptable tool.

The use of 3D printing for technical ceramics introduces new possibilities for applications by optimizing designs and overcoming limitations inherent in traditional production methods such as machining.

With a strong background in additive manufacturing, 3DCeram is well-equipped to understand and meet the diverse needs of different customers. Drawing from our experience, we have honed our expertise to advance the technology and address industrial demands, focusing on developing a mass production method that is also customizable.

To meet these industrialization requirements in 3D printing technical ceramics, we have introduced the C3600 ULTIMATE, an industrial printer designed to handle large parts or produce significant quantities of small, uniform, or diverse parts on its 600x600x300 mm build platform.

In the journey towards industrial-scale production, the development phase is crucial. This is why the C100 EASY FAB complements the C3600 ULTIMATE, providing a stepping stone to help you progress towards your goals effectively.

Additional equipment

• Installation of post-processing models – allows you to easily remove unpolymerized paste.
• Furnaces for removing photopolymer (in oxygen and nitrogen environment) and sintering of parts (in a professional environment)