Creation of 3D stereolithography technology by non-contact magnetic support operation

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21H01308
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 21010:Power engineering-related
• Research Institution: University of Toyama
• Principal Investigator: Ohji Takahisa 富山大学, 学術研究部工学系, 教授 (30334709)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: Magnetic levitation / Positioning control / 3-D printing / Additive manufacturing / mPCR fluid

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This project aims to extensively evaluate the feasibility of a novel stereolithography technique that integrates magnetic levitation and stereolithography technologies.
The project's tasks are (1) preparing magnetic photo-curable resin (mPCR) fluid and evaluating its physical properties, (2) fabricating a prototype machine including a laser light source, maglev unit, fluid reservoir, and three-dimensional linear stage, and (3) printing basic shapes. The mPCR fluid mixed with 10 wt% of Fe3O4 particles in resin liquid showed that magnetic sensitivity and UV light-curing properties are sufficient for the new stereolithography system. We fabricated a prototype machine that included the components mentioned above. Using the prototype, we tested and evaluated the layered printing of a magnetically supported mPCR fluid cone vertex in the vertical and horizontal directions. As a result, we demonstrated that the prototype machine could print the fluid with the specified layer thickness.

Free Research Field

電磁応用工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

磁気浮上技術による液体（mPCR液）の位置決め制御・操作技術と，光造形技術を融合させる本研究課題は，既存の光造形手法にみられる土台（Zステージ）に直接積層造形するものとは異なり，余計な接触面や支持脚を印刷する必要がない，造形材料や造形時間のムダが排除できる，環境負荷が少ないといった特長を持つ。光造形装置内に磁気浮上機構を組み込むことでシステム全体としては複雑化するが，機能を統合したプロトタイプ機による実験で，磁気支持状態での高精度な垂直，水平積層造形を達成しており本方式の実現性を示せた。本研究での成果は，学際研究的意義のみならず，産業技術としての新規性と意義を十分に有している。