Research teams and material developers need flexible systems for testing new powders, binders, geometries, and process conditions. Open access to printing parameters is essential for developing new materials, validating performance, and exploring new applications.

Binder jetting supports material research, process development, prototyping, and application testing within one platform. Ceramics, metals, recycled minerals, biomaterials, and application-specific powders can be investigated without the restrictions of a closed material system.

Development can begin on the compact Armadillo platform, where materials and processes can be tested efficiently in laboratory and R&D environments. Once validated, the same process can be transferred to Elephant to increase production capacity and support repeatable manufacturing.

Open software

Open software with endless parameters.

Customizable hardware

Customizable hardware.

Reduction bed

For quick powder prototyping.

Any binder

Low- and high-viscosity binders for any application.

Start immediately

Pre-made binders to start immediately.

Application

Copper at KIT

Developed in collaboration with Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), the technical university and national research center in Karlsruhe, Germany, this application explores how additive manufacturing can enhance thermal management through highly optimized copper structures. Applications such as heat exchangers and cooling systems require components that maximize heat transfer while minimizing weight, often pushing the limits of conventional manufacturing methods.

Using CONCR3DE binder jetting printer, complex copper gyroid structures were produced with a high surface-to-volume ratio and low structural density. The intricate lattice geometry increases the available heat transfer area while maintaining a lightweight design, making it well suited for demanding thermal applications.

This demonstrates how binder jetting enables the production of geometries that would be difficult or impossible to manufacture using traditional techniques.

The process can be scaled to the CONCR3DE Elephant platform to support larger parts, increased batch capacity, and industrial-scale production.

Application

Porcelain CTTC

In collaboration with CTTC, the Centre de Transfert de Technologies Céramiques based in France, CONCR3DE supported the development of a binder jetting process for high-end porcelain tableware. Products such as cups, plates, and bowls often combine demanding aesthetic requirements with complex geometries, making them challenging and costly to produce using traditional ceramic manufacturing methods.

Using CONCR3DE Armadillo printer, CTTC developed and validated a dedicated 3D printing process for porcelain. Binder jetting enables the production of large and intricate ceramic components without the need for molds, providing greater design freedom while simplifying the transition from design to production.

The ability to produce intricate designs without molds gives manufacturers greater creative freedom while making customized and small-batch ceramic production economically viable.

Once validated on Armadillo, the process can be transferred to the CONCR3DE Elephant platform to increase build capacity and support higher-volume production.

Application

Alumina WZR

Advanced ceramics are widely used in demanding industrial applications where wear resistance, electrical insulation, and thermal stability are essential. However, producing complex alumina components using conventional manufacturing methods often requires extensive machining and tooling, increasing both cost and development time.

Together with WZR Ceramic Solutions GmbH, a leading German institute in ceramics R&D, alumina-based materials with compositions ranging from 80% to 99% were successfully developed and validated on the CONCR3DE Armadillo printer. Specialized particle-filled binders were developed to improve density and material performance.

This work established a flexible platform for the development and validation of advanced ceramic formulations. By enabling the production and testing of a wide range of alumina compositions, binder jetting supports the exploration of new material systems and their potential industrial applications.

Following development and validation on Armadillo, the material process can be transferred to the CONCR3DE Elephant platform to increase production capacity and support larger components.