American company makes 3D printer that can print difficult materials faster

The American company Inkbit has made a 3D printer that can deal with ‘more difficult materials’ such as silicone and epoxy, by using machine learning and self-designed sensors. This allows the printer to quickly identify and resolve errors during printing.

The MIT researchers who started the company Inkbit tell MIT News that wider use of 3D printers in business is not possible now, because certain materials do not lend themselves well to printing. They give the materials silicone and epoxy as an example. These materials often print unevenly, according to the researchers, and also tend to clump together and clog devices. After printing, the materials sometimes shrink or change shape. The Inkbit founders say they have found a solution with their printers.

The use of proprietary oct scanners allows the printer to look at layers below the surface. This allows the printer to continuously see what is happening during the printing process. Using machine learning, the device can solve production problems and compensate for unexpected behavior of the materials during printing, the researchers said.

At the moment, the company only has one printer that can print ‘one hundred thousand products the size of a hand’ per year in different materials. The company expects to be able to sell products produced by this printer later this year and is currently running a pilot with Johnson & Johnson, which is active in the pharmaceutical industry, among others. Next year, Inkbit wants to sell printers to other companies.