Collaboration to deepen the knowledge of LDM

When you’re layering instead through LDM (Liquid Deposition Modelling) process wet materials such as clays, there are some limitations due to geometries, collapses, drying and shrinkage, so the material extruded assumes a key role for obtaining acceptable final results.

Focusing on this stimulating research direction, a new collaboration has been formed between Wasproject and artist Francesco Pacelli, in order to deepen the knowledge about the LDM process, widening the number of potential extrudable ceramics materials, setting the correct mixtures and printing parameters to obtain functional 3D printed ceramic pieces.

Wasp has designed a smart LDM extruder based on a compressed air tank which feeds an endless screw in order to selectively deposit clay through a stepper motor. The mechanics of deltawasp machines is well suited for clay deposition because you don’t have a moving bed, so the print remains still while the extruder is moving layer by layer, avoiding dangerous shakes that could compromise the stability of the final printed part.

The extruder works well, but there was still work to do related to materials and shapes achievable through the LDM process. After graduation in Design & Engineering in 2013, Francesco Pacelli was an academic researcher for two years at +LAB, the 3D printing lab led by Marinella Levi at the Chemical and Material Engineering department of Politecnico di Milano, where he became familiar with the LDM process and with the potential of extrudable materials.

Since October 2015 a collaboration between Wasp and Francesco started to improve the technology, showing its potential in many fields. Francesco’s work is mainly focused on arts, but the potential applications of these machines and LDM process are huge - from design to engineering, from fashion to biomedicals.