Additive Manufacturing Lab

GEMA group has pioneered research in Spain in additive manufacturing of ceramics and ceramic-based composites by Robocasting or Direct Ink Writing (DIW). Our lab is equiped with state-of-the-art additive manufacturing systems (3D printers) both extrusion-based and vat photopolymerization systems. We can, therefore, fabricate complex ceramic-based materials and composites, as well as polymeric parts, with resolutions down to the nanoscale:

• Robocasting or Direct Ink Writing (DIW) printers, including UV-assisted DIW systems.
• Digital Light Processing (DLP) printers.
• Two-Photon Polymerization (TPP) Nanoscribe printer for nanofabrication.
• Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) printers.

The lab includes all means for research in additive manufacturing including the preparation of custom feedstocks for all these AM techniques:

• Mills (planetary, attrition and high energy mills) for powder refinement.
• Freeze drier.
• Particle size analyzer.
• Zeta potential measurement system.
• High performance mixer for slurry preparation.
• Extruders for fabrication of polymer-based filaments.

Our expertise extends also to the microstructural characterization, mechanical testing and optimization, as well as modelling and numerical simulation of complex parts fabricated by additive manufacturing, being a reference research group in Spain on these topics.