AIM3D's Voxelfill strategy is backed by slicing software SlicEx

A collaboration between Danish software company Create it Real (Aalborg, Denmark) and AIM3D GmbH (Rostock, Germany) is integrating the Voxelfill process as a plug-in for AIM3D’s ExAM 255 and 510 composite extrusion modeling (CEM) 3D printers. The slicing software solution SlicEx, which is based on Create it Real’s Real Vision Slicer, will, in the future, enable users to make optimum use of AIM3D’s patented Voxelfill technology to overcome inhomogeneous strengths and to achieve selective densities of 3D components made of metals, plastics, fiber-filled plastics and ceramics.

AIM3D’s Voxelfill process overcomes inhomogeneous strengths by making use of a cross-layer filling strategy. The layer-based 3D buildup processes currently used in 3D printers often exhibit inhomogeneous strength values. This manifests itself primarily in the form of tensile and flexural strength shortcomings, as well as very brittle behavior along the Z-axis. In contrast, strengths achieved along the X and Y axes with some processes are already close to the strengths possible with conventional injection molding. AIM3D has already demonstrated this with the processing of fiber-filled components based on PA6 GF30 material. With the Voxelfill process, AIM3D is taking a new approach that overcomes these inhomogeneous strengths and achieves defined selective densities in the component. In addition to the CEM process, Voxelfill can also be used for multi-material components and is suitable for constructing 3D components using plastics, metals and ceramics.

“With the development of Voxelfill, the user now has the possibility to use Voxelfill to improve the Z-strength and the printing speed. However, these modules are currently still under development,” Jacob Nissen, CEO of Create it Real, says. “AIM3D is an ideal partner, backed by a strong academic background and a solid theoretical foundation.”

Learn more about the Voxelfill process here.