Over one million euros in funding for 3D printing research

„This will enable us to implement new hybrid materials and components from production in the 3D printer to characterisation of the material properties and testing in demonstrator components,

says Ingo Reinhold, Professor of Coating Processes at HTWK Leipzig.

For the second time, Leipzig University of Applied Sciences (HTWK Leipzig) has received large-scale research funding from the German Research Foundation (DFG): Following the funding of large-scale equipment for materials research, there will be around 1.2 million euros for technology for research into 3D printing from January 2024. The new equipment includes two 3D printers and an analyser. "This will enable us to implement new hybrid materials and components from production in the 3D printer to characterisation of the material properties and testing in demonstrator components," says Ingo Reinhold, Professor of Coating Processes at HTWK Leipzig.

With this funding, the university is strengthening its many years of expertise in the field of additive manufacturing. In this process, materials such as polymers, cell cultures, hydrogels or metals are applied layer by layer to create three-dimensional objects. Other common terms are 3D printing or additive manufacturing. 3D printing is used in numerous teaching and research areas at HTWK Leipzig, including mechanical engineering, lightweight construction, printing and packaging technology, architecture, construction, electrical engineering and energy technology. „The advantage of 3D printing compared to conventional manufacturing processes results from its multifunctionality, which can be realised in a single production step. Several materials can be printed together seamlessly, combining different properties and functions and thus making the products "smart", says Reinhold, who is responsible for the research project and brings more than 15 years of expertise in inkjet and inkjet technology to the table.

Modern research equipment for 3D printing

In concrete terms, the new large-scale devices include a 3D printer with a powder bed fusion/IR 3D printing system. This can fuse different powders and inks together using heat radiation and, in addition to the mechanical function of the component, can also change properties locally in a defined way. For example, researchers can use nanoparticles to incorporate electrical conductors or sensors into mechanical structures.

Another 3D printer is intended for medical applications. It enables the printing of complex material combinations in paste form, which are fed in via the various printing heads. The process allows biomedical engineers to add drugs to bone implants, for example, so that they are better accepted by the body.

With another large-scale device, the precision rheometer, the scientists analyse the flow of powder materials in order to further optimise the speed and precision of the processes.

Multimaterial Additive Manufacturing research area

The new large-scale devices are located in the Multimaterial AM research area. AM stands for „additive manufacturing“. Here, cross-faculty research ideas are generated, synergies are identified and the use of the devices is made possible for interested scientists at HTWK Leipzig as well as for external parties.

In addition, the multi-material AM research area links the cross-faculty competence centre for materials research with the Institute for Printing, Packaging and Processing (iP3) at the Faculty of Computer Science and Media, which has been researching the application of additive manufacturing processes in the context of classic printing and packaging technology for years. In the field of materials research, funding of around one million euros has already been raised in the first funding programme of the DFG's large-scale action, from which a scanning electron microscope and a computer tomograph have been procured.

Prof. Dr Mark Mietzner, Rector of HTWK Leipzig: „As a research-intensive university, HTWK Leipzig has repeatedly raised new third-party funding records in recent years, most recently in 2022 with a total of 21.12 million euros. That is why I am all the more pleased about the second funding award within the DFG's Major Grants Programme, because it means we can start the new year with a very special success story. We are particularly pleased that we, as a university of applied sciences, are able to expand our DFG funding and that our achievements in the field of 3D printing are being recognised accordingly.

Prof. Dr Faouzi Derbel, Vice-Rector for Research and Sustainability at HTWK Leipzig: „We are very pleased about the second DFG funding for large-scale devices. The new devices in the research field of multi-material AM can contribute to transforming engineering, in a similar way to the use of AI or big data, for example, because additive manufacturing has the potential to create entirely new solutions with newly combined materials.

Background on DFG funding

With its funding, the DFG supports universities of applied sciences by supplementing the existing equipment infrastructure and specifically promoting existing research priorities. In the third and final round of calls for proposals, only 16 of the 65 universities that applied were selected for funding in a DFG review process.

Press release by "idw - Informationsdienst Wissenschaft" from 19 January 2024