New Epson 3D printer can use commonly-found materials

Limited access to materials is currently considered one of the barriers to the adoption of 3D printing, but a new printer unveiled by Japan's Epson could help these difficulties become a thing of the past.

Reportedly able to make use of commonly found third-party materials, such as resin or metal pellets, the team designed the printer to fabricate the "strength and accuracy" for industrial use, which could present more versatile applications compared to other 3D printers.

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Commercial 3D printers typically require the use of special modelling materials, which can limit applications in the real world. By utilising more common materials, the printers could see more widespread use.

It also uses a unique method of printing that involves a flat screw, in line with similar processes developed by the firm, which it claims both increases the number of materials it can print and supposedly tightly controls the amount of material used during printing.

"In addition, the amount of material injected is precisely controlled by regulating the pressure within the head and by regulating the action of a valve in concert with the modelling speed. The temperature at the surface of a piece being printed must also be controlled in order to obtain the required strength", the company claimed in a statement.

The temperature is tightly controlled by a "mechanism" to achieve the desired strength and accuracy during the printing process.

Epson claims these more common materials are available for a cheaper price than typical materials, which could stand to lower another major barrier for entry in the sector.

Outside of metal and resin, the printer also offers the ability to use biomass pellets and thermoplastics, which can provide much-needed heat resistance to final products.

The use of common materials could see more widespread industrial use for the creation of parts, the company claims.

"It is ideally suited to mass customisation, as it can produce small batches of parts tailored to customers' needs with higher quality, shorter lead times, and at a fraction of the cost of traditional manufacturing processes", it added.

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In the near-future Epson will be looking to work on any hitches the printer may have before looking at commercialisation.

This new design was first unveiled at the International Robot Exhibition 2022 on March 9, alongside demonstrations of other Epson 3D printers.

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