Melos sets milestones

3D printing has grown and the variety of applications will massively increase in the coming years. To maximally exhaust potentials, optimal interaction of printing technology and printable materials is required. At Melos, we are diligently working on a specialisation on the paste printing of the most diverse materials. Our new print head combines various methods of additive production using the now wide-spread FFF process (Fused Filament Fabrication) for orientation.

The Melos team is fascinated by the possibilities of 3D printing. We are open to new ideas from all industries and are already working with chemists, engineers, industrial designers and architects to turn ideas into concrete solutions. We're still in the early stages in some cases, but we do have goals: Design elements for real estate projects and self-supporting architecture. Building and insulation materials. Colourful 3D figures that enliven playgrounds and theme parks. Sophisticated prototyping, fast and efficient. Large 3D bodies with complex interior geometries. And perhaps soon residential structures on the moon and Mars. Advantage paste printing: material compositions without limits.

The elastomer-based granules are processed with a special binder to a highly viscous paste. Depending on the requirements, the structure of the granules can vary. Granule size, shape and size distribution of the solid material influence the printing process and are precisely matched to each other project by project. The spectrum allows a significantly higher printing efficiency of large-volume components. A special chemistry with reaction accelerator is used for fast material hardening after nozzle exit. It is conceivable to transfer the principle of paste printing to materials such as wood, sand or glass. The process allows an efficient production of larger volume bodies. The target market is for structures preferably with a volume of more than 1 cubic meter. Currently, the main areas of application are playground figures, but also mould making, where difficult geometries can be easily reproduced by 3D printing.