Belgium-based startup creating a new metal 3D printing technology using aluminium
Belgium-based startup ValCun is reportedly creating a technology to make metal 3D printing more affordable and convenient than before. The company reports that it is using fresh and recycled aluminium, even cans, as input for its products.
As mentioned in the available reports, ValCun refers to the technology as “molten metal deposition.” The technology uses aluminium wire feedstock, which looks like a spooled metal wire that is melted.
The process of the technology is described to be as follows: the metal is first melted, then the workpiece is heated using plasma, and then finally, the material is deposited. This procedure leads to less heat and energy expended compared to heating an entire chamber.
Jonas Galle, the inventor of the technology and founder of ValCun, said this process of metal 3D printing has been invented to counter the disadvantages of power bed fusion process, which is slow and expensive. Molten metal deposition process will make metal 3D printing more accessible with cheaper feedstock and lower cost machine.
Initially, the firm is focused on the use of aluminium as an input, but later on, it may switch to copper.
However, no further details are available on how the firm plans to use metal scrap as input for their work.
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