Ricoh’s proprietary metal binder jet solution will harness the company’s leading inkjet printhead expertise to produce aluminium parts in complex shapes at speed and in a stable manner.
November 10, 2021 – Ricoh has announced a new metal binder jet technology intended to realise the ambition of end-use metal parts production using 3D printing.
Aluminium alloys are already widely used for metal parts, but can be difficult to process due to its volatility. The proprietary Ricoh solution has been developed to create a controlled production environment, with the unique capability to produce intricate shapes and narrow tubes. This process will improve energy efficiency by reducing part weight and improving heat dissipation.
Through co-creation activities with our customers, Ricoh is now working to bring a solution to market that can produce innovative aluminium parts, in particular aimed at heat dissipating applications.
Meet the experts at Formnext
Visitors to Stand C51, Hall 11.0 at Formnext can experience aluminium parts produced using Ricoh’s metal binder jet method, as well as discuss co-creation and partnership opportunities with the team behind this exciting new technology
Formnext is the leading global trade fair for manufacturing and processing technologies related to additive manufacturing and the next generation of intelligent industrial production. The exhibition will bring together technologies, products and services from around the world, including industrial 3D printing, as adoption ramps up across a wide range of fields such as automotive, aerospace, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and healthcare.
The Ricoh solution will make it possible to use aluminium powder with the high-volume cost efficiency of the binder jetting process thanks to the following unique properties:
- Contributes to the weight reduction and improved heat dissipation of metal parts by realising shapes that cannot be produced with existing technologies.
- The binder jet method saves time and resources due to its high productivity and the ability to reuse unused materials.
- Ricoh’s industrial inkjet printhead technology, developed over 40 years, enables stable manufacturing of parts with complex shapes.
- Capable of processing aluminum alloy, which is widely used for metal parts.