$ 8 million to develop the fastest 3D printing technology for large-size resin models

Last year the creators of Azul 3D announced the further development of the project, claiming that their device is “the largest and most efficient stereolithographic 3D printer in its class”. However, it may seem that the lack of any further information on the HARP method is tantamount to abandoning the project. Nothing could be more wrong…

As it turns out, the last months for Azul 3D have been very intense. The second round of project financing has just been completed, in which it managed to raise USD 5.4 million, raising a total of over USD 8 million for further development.

HARP technology developed at the University of Northwestern is an abbreviation of High-Area Rapid Printing and as the creators assure the technology is able to create a 3D print the height of an adult human, so the method has a chance to find application in the creation of structural parts, among others for the needs of the automotive industry.

High-Area Rapid Printing is an original interpretation of the SLA method, in which the work area and the rate of production of the element are not limited. The technology allows the production of a material that behaves like “liquid Teflon” and does not adhere to the 3D printer table and a special material circulation system for efficient cooling. Here, scientists also refer to the aforementioned CLIP technology saying that although it allows you to make details quickly, it does not solve the problem of elevated temperatures generated during the process.

Already in October 2019, the creators of the technology announced that the device would have a chance to be commercialized within the next 18 months. The funds raised will be allocated to expanding operations – preparing for the recruitment of senior management and the construction of a production plant, which in turn will allow the production of a commercial version of the device.

The first commercial Azul 3D devices will be available for beta testers as early as 2021. Their mass production is to start in the last quarter of next year. As the creators emphasize, the purpose of their devices is to use functional elements in production, not prototypes. They also ensure that their solution will allow achieving performance at the level of several tons of material per year.

Source: www.centrumdruku3d.pl