3D打印启动强化is set to launch its newCKM(Continuous Kinetic Mixing) technology, which enables improved functionality and mechanical properties in 3D printed photopolymers. The news comes as the vat polymerization specialist expands and sets up shop in its new Boston headquarters to facilitate increased manufacturing needs.
Continuous Kinetic Mixing
多年来，通过添加纤维和颗粒，工业工程师多年来一直在增强传统注射模制聚合物的性能。Fortify旨在通过其新的CKM平台将这种处理技术实施到增值税聚合技术中，以解决自成立以来一直在增材制造中持续存在的问题。
CKM通过确保增强性能添加剂在树脂中均匀分布，从而减轻聚类和沉淀，从而确保其作用。这可能会导致强度，刚度，韧性，磨损和热偏转温度的提高，具体取决于所使用的添加剂。
“Material properties are a key factor driving adoption of Additive Manufacturing,” stated Ken Kisner, Global Head of Innovation, 3D Printing,Henkel Adhesive Technologies. “Fortify’s on-board mixing technology is an important step toward satisfying this need. This is a very exciting piece of technology that will open up significant applications across industries.”
强化has also recently been successful in extending its use cases to metal injection molding. Namely, ceramic fibers were incorporated into photopolymer resin using CKM technology to fabricate tooling able to withstand the extreme temperatures and pressures generated by the injection molding process.
“For years our customers have been asking us for a better way to prototype parts with our production metal injection molding process. Speed, dimensional accuracy, and production intent processes are critical for our customer’s development efforts,” explains Chris Aiello, Technical Sales Manager atAlpha Precision Group. “Fortify finally showed us a tooling solution that holds up to our MIM process, and checks all the boxes for our customers requirements.”
通电纤维对齐
强化’s CKM technology will be used in conjunction with itsFluxprintprocess, whereby a magnetic field is applied to the build area during printing. The field aligns all the fibers in that specific layer, which is eventually cured. The orientation of the fibers is secured in the cured resin and the process is repeated for the following layers. This ability to modify fiber orientation on a layer by layer basis gives the user ultimate control over the part’s directional properties.
“开发连续的动力学混合是强化战略不可或缺的一部分。这将在制造功能零件中发挥关键作用。”“我们很高兴将这个材料处理模块与我们的通量工艺结合在一起，以解决客户的应用挑战。”
The CEO goes on to explain that his team takes a comprehensive approach to developing additive solutions. In addition to advanced hardware and software systems, the start-up innovates within materials science to process viscous, heavily loaded polymers. Fortify’s “new class of material” is expected to be well suited for high performance applications.
强化’s upcoming Digital Composite Manufacturing (DCM) 3D printer will be the first and only system to incorporate the company’s in-situ mixing CKM and magnetic alignment Fluxprint technologies. The company will begin shipping to select customers this summer.
强化’s MIM use case is not the only one to have utilized additive manufacturing and injection molding harmoniously. Last year,丹麦总部制造提供商AddiFab使用增值税聚合产生树脂模具，然后在调用的过程中可以注入液态塑料或金属Freeform Injection Molding. Elsewhere, in Ireland, researchers from theAthlone Institute of Technology(AIT) have previously used injection molding with FFF todevelop custom bilayer tablets能够释放特定量的药物。
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Featured image shows the Fortify team based in Boston. Photo via Fortify.
