The VX500 (Voxeljet AG, Germany) is an industrial 3-D printer that uses CAD data to create a 3-dimensional object, based on PMMA (poylmethylmethacrylate). A solvent is used which partially dissolves the polymer and creates a connection between individual PMMA particles. After drying, the components can be used without any further post processing. In addition, material properties can be improved by infiltrating the components.

In industrial use, this machine can also be used for the manufacture of models, functional models and lost models for investment casting. An example, the model of a cylinder head, is shown in the picture on the right.

Contact: Christian Polley M.Sc.