Sandvik's Industrial Composite May Disrupt the Machining Industry
Laura McQuarrie — May 23, 2019 — Unique
References: home.sandvik & all3dp
Sandvik recently unveiled a first-of-its-kind 3D-printed diamond composite, which lacks the brilliance of a diamond but makes up for it by offering the same kind of strength and resilience. As such, the diamond composite has the potential to revolutionize the machining industry. According to Sandvik delivery manager Anders Ohlsson, “On seeing its potential, we began to wonder what else would be possible from 3D printing complex shapes in a material that is three times stiffer than steel, with heat conductivity higher than copper, the thermal expansion close to Invar—and with a density close to aluminum.”
Notably, the material used is neither natural or synthetic but a pure diamond composite that shares many of the physical properties of diamonds. While diamond composites have been available since the 1950s, the possibilities of 3D printing with this material are now only beginning to be explored.
Notably, the material used is neither natural or synthetic but a pure diamond composite that shares many of the physical properties of diamonds. While diamond composites have been available since the 1950s, the possibilities of 3D printing with this material are now only beginning to be explored.
Trend Themes
1. 3D Printing Diamond Composites - This trend offers disruptive innovation opportunities in the manufacturing industry particularly in materials with high strength and resilience.
2. Exploration of 3D Printing Capabilities - This trend opens up opportunities to explore the potential of 3D printing to manufacture complex shapes with unique properties.
3. Development of Pure Diamond Composite Materials - This trend creates opportunities to explore the use of pure diamond composites with unique physical properties for various applications.
Industry Implications
1. Manufacturing - This industry can benefit from diamond composites that offer high strength, resilience, and unique physical properties for producing high-performance machine parts and tools.
2. 3D Printing - This industry can explore the use of diamond composites in 3D printing for manufacturing high-strength complex shapes with unique properties.
3. Materials Science - This industry can benefit from the development of pure diamond composites and their unique physical properties for a wide range of applications in various fields.
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