Summary
- Profile Type
- Technology offer
- POD Reference
- TORS20241202012
- Term of Validity
- 2 December 2024 - 2 December 2025
- Company's Country
- Serbia
- Type of partnership
- Research and development cooperation agreement
- Targeted Countries
- All countries
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General information
- Short Summary
- The offered technology comes from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Niš, Serbia. The technology is a variable nozzle sub-system for 3D printing extruders, designed to improve the efficiency and quality of FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) 3D printing processes. This innovative sub-system allows the nozzle diameter to dynamically change during printing, enabling faster production, better surface quality, and improved strength of printed parts. The technology reduces material waste.
- Full Description
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The offered technology comes from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Niš, Serbia. The problem this technology addresses is the limitation of current FDM 3D printing systems, which use fixed nozzle diameters. This creates inefficiencies in the printing process, such as slower production speeds and lower flexibility in handling various printing tasks. In the current state of the art, FDM printers typically use one or two fixed-nozzle extruders, which restrict their ability to quickly adapt to varying material outputs. Solutions for variable nozzles have been proposed but remain in developmental stages, with some semi-variable nozzle designs available for desktop printers. However, there is no fully commercialized industrial-grade solution that allows dynamic adjustment of nozzle size and shape during the printing process. This gap in the market is where the offered technology provides a significant advantage.
The technology being offered is a fully functional variable nozzle sub-system that allows the diameter and shape of the nozzle to be adjusted dynamically, both before and during the 3D printing process. This enables faster printing speeds, up to 40 times faster for large objects, while maintaining high resolution and part strength. The system improves the surface quality of printed parts and reduces the need for post-processing. Additionally, it offers the capability to print complex geometries and increase part strength by adjusting the nozzle diameter as needed. The technology is eco-friendly, reducing energy consumption and material waste by optimizing the use of printing materials. Its application fields include industries such as automotive, aerospace, healthcare, and consumer electronics, where 3D printing is used for rapid prototyping, model creation, and small-batch production.
The team behind the development of this technology consists of experts in additive manufacturing, mechanical engineering, and product innovation.
The cooperation sought for this technology includes partnerships for production, further development, and licensing. These cooperation types have been selected to ensure that the technology reaches its full potential through industrial-scale production and international distribution. By collaborating with manufacturing companies, the team aims to streamline the commercialization process and improve the technology’s market readiness. The desired outcome of an international partnership is to expand the technology's application globally, targeting industries in countries like Germany, France, the United States, where there is a high demand for advanced 3D printing solutions. Cooperation is also envisaged through licensing agreements, allowing established manufacturers to integrate the variable nozzle system into their existing 3D printers or industrial processes.
In this international cooperation, the technology providers will offer their know-how and expertise to ensure a smooth transition from development to market application. They will also provide technical support for the integration of the system into existing 3D printing frameworks. - Advantages and Innovations
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The offered technology presents a breakthrough in FDM 3D printing by introducing a variable nozzle sub-system capable of adjusting both diameter and shape dynamically during the printing process. This innovation addresses the limitations of current fixed-nozzle systems, which restrict printing speed, resolution, and flexibility. With this variable nozzle, the system can achieve up to 40 times faster printing for large objects while maintaining high resolution and part strength. It allows for continual changes in nozzle size, optimizing the process for both speed and quality, which is important for industries like automotive, aerospace, and healthcare, where complex geometries and high precision are essential.
One of the key advantages of this technology is its ability to reduce material waste and energy consumption. By optimizing the material output, the system ensures that only the necessary amount of material is used, significantly reducing waste. Additionally, this leads to lower operational costs and a more eco-friendly solution with a smaller carbon footprint. The technology eliminates the need for multiple 3D printers or additional post-processing steps, further reducing production time and costs.
Compared to existing solutions, this sub-system can be integrated into both desktop and industrial 3D printers, making it highly versatile. The ability to adjust nozzle size from 1 mm to 20 mm dynamically during a single print session is unique in the market and significantly enhances the printing process by improving surface quality, resolution, and structural integrity. This innovation provides a distinct advantage for companies looking to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and maintain high product quality in their 3D printing operations. - Stage of Development
- Under development
- Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Partner Sought
- Expected Role of a Partner
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The type of partner for this technology includes industrial companies, research organizations, and businesses specializing in additive manufacturing, particularly those involved in 3D printing technologies. Partners from industries such as automotive, aerospace, healthcare, and electronics are ideal candidates, as these sectors require high-precision 3D printing for rapid prototyping, custom part production, and complex geometries. Additionally, partnerships with academic institutions and research organizations with a focus on advancing additive manufacturing technologies would be valuable for further development and testing of the system in various applications.
The tasks to be performed by the industrial partners include the production and integration of the variable nozzle sub-system into existing 3D printers. These partners would also contribute to scaling up production, marketing the technology to relevant industries, and distributing it globally. Ideally, they would provide expertise in the commercialization of 3D printing technologies, offering support in manufacturing, quality control, and logistical planning to ensure the technology’s successful entry into the market.
For research organizations and academic institutions, the role would be focused on further development and refinement of the technology. These partners could assist in testing the system’s performance in different industrial environments and with various materials, providing data that could lead to improvements in functionality and design. Research partnerships would also help explore additional applications for the technology, potentially leading to new innovations and expanded market opportunities.
Industrial partners are expected to focus on production, distribution, and commercialization. Licensing agreements with companies that manufacture 3D printers would be a key strategy, allowing the technology to be integrated into their product lines. Research collaborations would allow for further R&D, ensuring that the technology remains cutting-edge and adaptable to future market needs. In terms of business partnerships, companies that specialize in 3D printing services could also adopt the technology to offer enhanced services, focusing on speed, quality, and eco-friendliness for their clients.
The international cooperation aims to use each partner's strengths: industrial partners will bring the technology to market, research organizations will improve it, and business partners will explore new service models based on the innovation. Each partnership type is aimed at accelerating the global adoption of this cutting-edge technology, ensuring it reaches industries that can most benefit from its advantages. - Type and Size of Partner
- SME 50 - 249
- R&D Institution
- SME <=10
- Big company
- SME 11-49
- University
- Type of partnership
- Research and development cooperation agreement
Dissemination
- Technology keywords
- 02001 - Design and Modelling / Prototypes
- 02006001 - Materials, components and systems for construction
- Market keywords
- 09004008 - Other manufacturing (not elsewhere classified)
- Targeted countries
- All countries