Research
Pushing boundaries
Photocentric’s focus of research activity is the application of our novel visible light photopolymers used in collaboration with our patented LCD based 3D printers, in the creation of 3D printed batteries.
Our goal is to manufacture ourselves, or to enable others to make, innovative products for applications that deliver scale, function and cost effectiveness and where the benefits of 3D printing are transformative.
LCD Printer Research
From the LCD screen in a virtual reality headset up to the largest 98” 8K TV screens we are leveraging the amazing advances in display screen technology to power the latest generation of our printers. We are specifying the design and construction of our panels. We have commercialized monochrome screens and created and optimised our own light engines. Our enthusiastic and committed team of engineers are constantly improving accuracy and speed in this most disruptive of technologies.
Polymer Research
Photocentric has an exceptional team of organic chemists working at the cutting-edge development of photopolymers. We work on photopolymerization right across the spectrum, commercializing grades from 350nm (UVA) up to 460nm (visible light). We are converting photons into electrons to ring open cations or break double bonds, turning liquids into solids to deliver durable functional plastics in a scale previously unheard of. Our material range covers all possible properties, delivering minimal shrinkage resins.
Metals
The ability to create usable metal from slurry is incredibly disruptive. Enabling metal parts to be formed for prototyping through to mass production without machining or casting enables new designs to be used, reduces cost and provides new possible geometries. Using a patent applied for process using LCD screens and visible light we have successfully printed both Nickel 718 and 17-4 PH stainless steel. This allows us to achieve both fine resolution (feature sizes of below 50 µm) and large area. We have developed a specific printer to create these metal parts. Parts are subsequently debound and sintered to deliver >97% dense parts.
Ceramics
We started on the journey of making ceramics in 2018 by printing a slurry of ceramic loaded particles and curing it with visible light through LCD screens. Today, we have moved through three generations of machines to end up with a truly scalable method of making dense ceramics at very high resolution. After printing the parts are debound and sintered. We have now printed hydroxyapatite, zirconia, silicon carbide and silica, but we have performed beta testing with alumina. We are excited to be co-developing the mass manufacture of ceramics with the MTC, who have the first of our new printers Ceramet 1, with a build volume of 12.2 x 6.8 x 7.8″.
Research Collaborations
We have an open policy towards research with any organization that widens the technology for all participants. Research with Universities is critical to the development of the science surrounding both UV and visible light polymerization from LCD screens in 3D printing. We are currently in partnership with over 20 universities and we welcome discussing any research projects.
Research Grants
Horizon 2020
This is a collaborative European project led by IIT (with HUJI, UniGe and us as partners) on the development of artificial soft robotics. The aim is to develop a soft robot actuator that mimics the elephant trunk (Proboscis) and its function.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement No 863212
Technology Developer Accelerator Programme
Fabrication of customised batteries with improved architecture created by LCD based visible light 3D printing.
Faraday Challenge: 3D Printing of Solid State Batteries with Controlled Geometry
Collaborative project between Photocentric (lead), the Centre For Process Innovation Limited and Johnson Matthey to fabricate solid state battery parts, as well as an entire cell using visible light and LCD screens.
A collaborative partnership with TWI, Addionics and The University of Leicester to manufacture 3D printed batteries in a novel multi-material process.
Intellectual Property
We have a number of granted patents covering our methods of 3D printing using LCD screens and many more pending.
Granted Patents
GB 2372575
GB 2422678
US 8,114,569
EP 3295246
Published Patent Applications
Method for forming a sachet
Method of making a photopolymer plate
Maskless photopolymer exposure process and apparatus
Method for making an object
US 2018/0141268
US 2018/0299779
EP 3353604
US 2018/0282544
EP 354185
EP 3572874
EP 3572210
EP 3575062
US 2019/0366635
US 2020/0047407
US 2020/0079966
US 2020/0094469
GB 2578188
GB 2578961
Method for making an object
Method for making a lithographic printing plate
Methods for making an object and formulations for use in said methods
Methods for making an object and formulations for use in said methods
Methods for making a metal, sand or ceramic object by additive manufacture and formulations for use in said methods
Methods for making a metal, sand or ceramic object by additive manufacture and formulations for use in said methods
Stereolithographic 3D printer
Stereolithographic 3D printer
Stereolithographic 3D printer
Method for improving resolution in LCD screen based 3D printers
Methods for making a metal, sand or ceramic object by additive manufacture and formulations of use in said methods
Automation of 3D printing process using LCD screens
The separate control of sub pixels in LCD 3D Printing
Automation of 3D printing process using LCD screens