UK team hails "game-changing" hybrid 3D printing process

The so-called ‘THREAD’ process is able to add multiple types of material into one 3D printed component and could, it is claimed, open additive manufacturing to a greater range of uses.

“The development of this process is a potential game-changer,” said AMRC development engineer, and inventor of the technique, Mark Cocking.

“Working at the AMRC within the AM sector it has been obvious for a while that connectivity within AM components carries massive potential across multiple industry sectors,” he told The Engineer. “The process came as an answer to integration of industry standard connectivity within AM components.”

With the project currently at patent-pending status, Cocking was tight-lipped on specific technical details but he did confirm that the process – which is fully automated - is able to embed strands - and potentially even tubes - of different materials groups such as copper, fibre optic, steel, and nitinol during the 3D printing process. He added that the technique also allows unbroken connectivity through X, Y and Z axis directions and that single or multiple strands can be embedded at a rate that does not effect the original build time of the component.