Some industrial 3D printers are equipped with the capability to print metal, but Vader is a metal printing machine designed for workshops and small companies that are not routinely producing on a large scale. The machine is mainly able to keep its costs low with MagnetoJet Printing (MJP) and a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) ceramic printhead. In terms of the material that is run through this machine, aluminum wire is one of the most economical choices.
Drops of molten metal are emitted from the machine, which make it easy to sculpt by connecting many small droplets. Some of the challenges that Vader addresses include the use of a printhead that is resistant to the abrasion of metal and commanding how the individual molten metal droplets are dispersed.
What's Driving This Trend
- Metal-printing Machines
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop a more affordable and compact metal printing machine for workshops and small companies.
- Magnetojet Printing (MJP)
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Improve the efficiency and accuracy of metal 3D printing using MagnetoJet Printing technology.
- Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) Ceramic Printhead
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create a durable and efficient printhead that can withstand the abrasion of metal and enhance metal 3D printing performance.
Who This Affects Most
- Manufacturing
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore the use of metal 3D printing in various manufacturing processes to increase efficiency and reduce costs.
- Workshops
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Integrate metal 3D printing technology into workshops to enable on-demand production of metal parts and prototypes.
- Small Companies
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Provide affordable and accessible metal 3D printing solutions to small companies, opening up new possibilities for product development and customization.
