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NineSigma RFP: Large Format Extrusion Deposition

OPPORTUNITY:
Licensing, product acquisition, contract research, proof of concept leading to scale-up to manufacturing, joint development, supplier agreement

TIMELINE:
Phase 1 – Proof of concept in 4-8 months
Phase 2 – Scale up and implementation in 8-12 months

FINANCIALS:
Phase 1 – Proof of concept funding up to commensurate with opportunity

SOLUTION PROVIDER HELP DESK:
Email: phd@ninesigma.com
Phone: +1-216-283-3901

NineSigma, representing a leading Material Science Corporation, invites proposals describing large format printing technologies capable of extruding pastes and resins on to paper or other heat sensitive materials.

The first 3D printers used thermoplastics to additively manufacture three-dimensional parts. While this is useful for fast prototyping, product development and data visualization, it is limited to end applications compatible with thermoplastic parts. Recent advances in additive manufacturing have focused on expanding the variety of materials able to be printed to further expand the applications parts can be used in. In addition to metal and silica printing, printing with pastes and resins can be a difficult challenge. NineSigma’s client is seeking technologies able to print extruded pastes and resins on to paper and other heat sensitive mediums that are large in size.

The successful technology will:

  • Be capable of extruding pastes, resins and other viscous liquids in defined and detailed patterns
  • Be capable of printing on to paper and other heat sensitive mediums
  • Be capable of printing over an area of > 4’ x 8’
  • Be adaptable to industrial processes
  • Be capable of handling and printing / extruding multiple overlaid layers of dissimilar pastes, resins or other curable components

Possible approaches might include, but are not limited to:

  • Large format 3d printers that have been adapted to handle viscous liquid and paste extrusion
  • 2d printing systems able to accurately dispense beads of paste in predefined intricate patterns

The following approaches are not of interest:

  • Multiple layer screen printing and other multistep processes
  • Conventional digital printing (ink / bubble jet)

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