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.

Calcium phosphate scaffold fabricated by DLP in GEMA's additive manufacturing research labs at University of Extremadura (Spain)

Calcium phosphate scaffold fabricated by DLP