Smart Molding International 1-2022

45 additive manufacturing www.smart-molding.com times or even to combine different resins to get multi-material parts and easy-to-remove support structures. Without a strict low viscosity con - straint, chemical companies obtain the freedom to formulate, as a whole new set of ingredients and modifiers can be added in the resin to achieve the de - sired effect on thermal and mechanical properties. VLM processes resins that obtain 3x the amount of impact resis - tance for rigid materials and a 200% increment in tear strength compared to industry-standard formulations. Specialty materials company Arkema has been part of the process, through a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) in which the two companies are co- developing new materials capitalizing the singularities of VLM to obtain prop - erties that can’t be reached with other resin-based 3D printing processes. As a global key player in the 3D printing industry and a pioneer in designing high-performance photocurable resins, Arkema utilized its experience spanning decades to ensure resins for VLMwere of the highest quality. BCN3D has also partnered with Prodrive, world-renowned motorsport and advanced technology company and one of the first in the world to put VLM technology to the test. They’ve been assembling end-use parts made with VLM mounted directly on cross- country cars. Top-tier productivity and affordability By using a light source consisting of UV light and an LCD screen, VLM deliv - ers a constant time per layer, regard - less of whether we are printing one or 100 parts at once. Furthermore, since it is not limited by the vat dimension, a complex temperature, or tricky compo - nents, all that’s needed to scale up is a bigger LCD screen. This combination of a quick layer time and a large surface area makes VLM the most productive additive manufacturing solution on the market. BCN3D’s partnership with automo - tive glass manufacturer Saint Gobain illustrates these benefits perfectly in a use case where 7000 positioning fix - tures have been fabricated in 7 days with VLM, for 0.79€ per part and a sub - sequent annual saving of 70.000€. Frictionless operation accessible to all There’s no denying that 3D printing has evolved from a rapid prototyping tool into a clear trend in manufactur - ing – all that was missing was an afford - able solution to reach all corners of man - ufacturing, from small to medium-sized businesses. Unlocking manufacturing autonomy using 3D printing shouldn’t be just for Fortune 500 companies, but for every single business that develops and manufactures concepts or prod - ucts, in any industry. VLM-based solu - tions will be under 50.000 euros, with a compact footprint, no dedicated space or critical infrastructure. This low entry barrier, in combination with its big printing volume and high throughput, puts the fixed cost of the solution ahead of the rest. By imple - menting the use of VLM, the cost per part is significantly lower than those of powder-based and resin-based tech - nologies. VLM also uses monocomponent res - ins formulations at room temperature to avoid pot life limitations and speed up setup times. Thanks to its propri - etary lamination system, the absence of a resin vat means that no initial in - vestment of resin is required. What’s more, with VLM, zero waste becomes a reality: designed to filter and recircu - late resin, every drop of resin eventu - ally becomes a printed part. The VLM Technology Adoption Program To let the entire industry benefit from this breakthrough, BCN3D has devised the VLM Technology Adoption Program, aimed at businesses of all shapes and sizes. Its new Applications Center will be operated by dedicated AM specialists and host the upcoming VLM-based hardware solutions. Partak - ers will join Saint Gobain and Prodrive in being the first to discover the new VLM and experiencing its full potential for themselves with real 3D printed parts and individual attention on their exact printing needs. The coexistence of FFF and VLM In 2021, the company passionately committed to investing in its new FFF hardware portfolio as well as its soft - ware solutions, which sparked the Astroprint acquisition that took place last July and a new logistic center in the USA. BCN3D plans to continue growing its FFF solutions this year and investing in new developments. Its new business unit for VLM will conduct dedicated resources independent of FFF that will instead coexist alongside. BCN3D www.bcn3d.com