Study on Advancements in Photopolymer AM
A technology study on the status quo of photopolymer AM processes.
Study description
Photopolymer technologies such as Vat Polymerization and Area-wise Vat Polymerization are well known and established technologies in the Additive Manufacturing market. With its first appearance in the 80s Stereolithography can be called the founding technology of AM.
Over the past years AM polymerization technologies have developed from pure prototyping and visual models to the serial production of shoe soles and hearing aids. The use in end part production triggered a “hype”, which has increased the number of suppliers and led to many promising and supposedly groundbreaking advancements from system providers. This AMPOWER study challenges the maturity of these technologies and benchmark several systems in terms of material properties, productivity, economical and sustainability aspects.
AMPOWER starts to conduct this study in September 2022 and aims to finish by mid-2023.
Study aim
This AMPOWER study will provide and extensive overview of the current developments within Polymerization technologies. It will therefore conduct independent testing of printed specimens and parts to verify material properties and part quality. This study will also evaluate the productivity and the economics of the entire process chain and not only the AM process.
This study aims to evaluate if the status of these technologies covers industrial needs and if further developments solve current problems of industrial users.