JCU upgrades to 3DCeram’s C100 EASY FAB ceramic Additive Manufacturing machine
3DCeram Sinto, based in Bonnac-La-Côte, France, has announced that James Cook University (JCU), Townsville, Australia, has upgraded its C100 Easy Lab to the more advanced C100 Easy Fab ceramic Additive Manufacturing machine.
Whilst the JCU has used the C100 Easy Lab in research and numerous successful projects, the decision to upgrade was undertaken to support the growing number of industrial partnerships and the need for more complex, scalable solutions.
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“When I was looking for 3D printing technology, especially [stereolithography], there were basically three players in the market,” explained Elsa Antunes, Senior Lecturer at JCU. “There is one player in the market that has basically the same quality as 3D Ceram, but I was not just looking for a machine, I was looking for a partnership, and for a relationship, it takes more than the 3D printing. I found when I met the 3D Ceram people I found an instant connection, and I could see we were building a partnership for life.”
“The transition to the C100 Easy Fab represents more than just an improvement – it’s a move forward in 3D printing capabilities,” 3DCeram Sinto stated in a press release. “This upgrade addresses the specific needs of industrial applications, enabling JCU to tackle more ambitious projects and drive innovation across various sectors.”
One project the JCU is focusing on is the restoration of the coral reef. Additive Manufacturing allows engineers to design parts with a similar structure to the reef with customised material properties. Because ceramics are inert, there is no negative environmental impact.
“We had the training at the beginning as all my students need it, but we did not have any know-how or knowledge about [stereolithography] or 3D printing,” stated Antunes. “We thought that we knew about 3D printing because we have been doing polymer 3D printing, but when it comes to [stereolithography], it’s a different technology. And, of course, the help from 3D Ceram was fundamental in the first two months where we had many questions.
“When we were trying to print taller parts, they broke,” she continued. “When we had defects in the parts, we quickly sent an email to the engineers at 3D Ceram. And what was really amazing was, even with the time difference of ten hours between Australia and France, they would always find the time. This was really important and made our life easier.”
The C100 Easy Fab is the smaller version of the ceramics Additive Manufacturing machine developed by 3DCeram, marketed to universities and R&D centres with a build platform of 100 x 100 x 150 cm. The size of the C100 Easy Fab supports open parameters in the production of parts, whilst making the machine more accessible to users with reduced mobility.
As well as the machinery, 3DCeram Sinto offers a variety of services tailored to meet the needs of its customers. Its teams and partners equipped to perform upgrades, routine maintenance and provide technical assistance on site regardless of location. Additionally, the company will provide comprehensive training covering any new features after upgrade as well as best practices and tips for machine use and maintenance.
The C100 Easy Fab is suited for advanced industries such as aerospace, medical devices, and the development of sustainable materials.
