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Created the first Russian 3D printer and the world’s first printer designed to print with ceramics

Создан первый российский 3D-принтер и первый в мире принтер позволяющий печатать керамикой

The first Russian ruler additive machines — industrial 3D printers — developed in the Ural Federal University (Urfu, Ekaterinburg).

A distinctive feature created in Urfu units — high (80%) the level of localization. “Machines do not require the purchase of imported components also used for domestic software”, — says first Vice-rector of Urfu Sergey Courts.

For solving problems of import substitution, the University is working on creating equipment for the production of metal powders used in technology. According to first Vice-rector of the Ural Federal University, one of the projects launched on the enterprise of Rosatom in Novouralsk.

Almost all parts of the unit are printed by specialists of the regional engineering center (RIC) of laser and additive technologies, Urfu, reports the Department of information policy of the head region.

Director RIC Alexey Fefelov was told that the Ural 3D printer was created in six months. Scientists have finished assembling the unit, the machine is now undergoing debugging, added to software.

Создан первый российский 3D-принтер и первый в мире принтер позволяющий печатать керамикой

Experts believe that creation of our own 3D printer will allow to increase volumes of production of finished products. Consequently, more and more enterprises will be interested in the application of these technologies.

As noted by Sergey Courts, the University formed their own competence in the field of additive technologies in the next two years. In Russia, the University is among three organizations that are leaders in the development of this industry.

We will remind that Urfu is one of the leading Russian universities, member of the program 5-100. Located in Yekaterinburg, training in it are more than 30 thousand students.

But Tomsk scientists have created the world’s first printer designed to print ceramic material.

Создан первый российский 3D-принтер и первый в мире принтер позволяющий печатать керамикой

The technology was developed by Russian scientists from Tomsk State University (TSU). Such material on the properties will compete with high-alloyed steels, nonferrous metals and hard alloys.

New technology will allow to obtain three-dimensional products with a wide range of applications in energy and electronics, mechanical engineering, chemical and petroleum industry, defense sector.

“Ceramics take a special place among the new materials. Because of the nature of the structures they have different properties of heat conductivity, high strength and hardness, which determine their use, ” says researcher TSU Vladimir Misses. – However, there is a problem with the manufacture of ceramic articles of complex shape, therefore, they do not receive wide distribution.

Still the main method of production was injection molding, which has not been possible to obtain ceramic articles of complex configuration, said Misses. There are methods of 3D-printing products with complex geometry but they only allow to obtain porous articles with remnants of adhesive and low strength.

“Our 3D printer – the first in the world that can print ceramics this class: monolithic in its structure, complex configuration, with the accuracy of printing up to tens of microns,” explains the scientist. With its help it will be possible to produce solid products, for example, hollow spheres structures in a honeycomb, which cannot be obtained by usual casting. Also in the printer will allow for continuous printing.

In addition, scientists not only work out the technology of printing products, but also to synthesize your source material. In particular, the method of “solid flame” — self-propagating high-temperature synthesis, based on the exothermic reaction of combustion scientists obtain ceramic powders (carbides, nitrides and borides of metals).

“Next we produce powders of the suspension, which with special temperature taking the consistency of sour cream, that is suitable for use as a raw material for a 3D printer, explains Mistakes. After layer-by-layer fused deposition modeling in certain technological conditions, we obtain the semi-finished products, which are sintered for the synthesis of solid products with desired properties and form.

The resulting product can be used as the protective panels of the spacecraft, individual parts of propulsion systems and substrates of the chips.

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