CONCR3DE has introduced a new suite of “washout materials”.
The Netherlands-based company provides a unique 3D print service that offers unusual materials. They include several stone materials, such as marble, granite, and limestone. They also offer ceramics, such as alumina and silicone carbide, in addition to the ability to 3D print sand objects.
To do all these materials, they use a binder jet process. They provide print services but do not sell machines, as is the pattern by several recent developers of new 3D print processes.
The new material is called “washout” and refers to how parts made from it are used. Washout materials are substances used in manufacturing—especially in composite layups, molding, and 3D printing to create temporary internal structures that are later removed by dissolving or washing them out, typically with water or another solvent.
These are not support materials; they are an integral part of making parts with other materials. But they are a consumable.
CONCR3DE prints the objects and removes the stray powder as is required in binder jet processes. However, there’s an extra step involved: they apply a water-soluble coating to the outside of the washout part to ensure surface smoothness and enable application of composite materials.
Why is this material so interesting? It’s because traditional washout parts are made with conventional manufacturing processes. In other words, you might have to CNC a block of material to create the desired geometry. Along with those manufacturing methods comes a lot of constraints, so using 3D printing to create the washout part enables much more complex geometries.
Another benefit is that the traditional manufacturing methods tend to take considerable time to complete. However, with 3D printed washout materials, it takes only as long as a print job to get done. Weeks become days, for example.
Finally, there’s a thermal advantage that is explained by CONCR3DE:
“CONCR3DE’s suite of washout materials presents notable advantages stemming from their predominantly ceramic composition, typically ranging from 80% to 90%. This substantial ceramic content confers upon these materials a lower Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE) when contrasted with materials composed entirely of polymers. This reduced CTE is a critical attribute, minimizing dimensional fluctuations in response to temperature variations and thereby enhancing the precision of fabricated components.”
There are three variants of washout materials available: gypsum, sand, and a ceramic. Each offers different properties that can be used to match the application.
Washout parts are a new application for 3D printing that few companies are addressing. Now there’s another one, CONCR3DE.
Via CONCR3DE
