Until now Rapid Prototyping technologies has been used primarily in industry as a visualization technology, for the fast production of an initial tangible product, a ‘conversation piece’, straight from CAD. But the series production of functional products has failed to materialize due to limitations in processes, materials and product finishing. In recent years huge advances have been made on all these fronts – thanks in part of TNO´s efforts. We are seeing a shift from Rapid Prototyping to Additive Manufacturing (AM) and contribute actively on that.

Applications

Despite the many steps taken, AM is not yet suitable for all applications. Often, production speed, the production process and the type of material are limiting factors when it comes to applying this production method on a large scale. This has prompted TNO to work on basic technologies to enable the machines to produce more quickly, more accurately and using a broader range of materials, as well as in an expanding field of application. Not only must the materials be suitable for processing in the machines, they must ultimately also satisfy the product requirements imposed on the end-product.

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Additive Manufacturing at TNO

TNO’s work in the field of Additive Manufacturing is focused on three basic technology platforms:

• Multimaterial, high viscous inkjet at production speed
• Fast and accurate SLA
• Direct Metal Tracks

These technologies have a broad range of applications. Working on the basis of customer-specific requirements and by integrating its knowledge of other disciplines, TNO is able to contribute in the fields of:

• Process development
• Applied material research
• Equipment development

More information on our technology platforms and our offer in the different fields, can be found on the specific websites.