3D Print Objects In Wood

Amazing? Yes. Inevitable? Probably. A huge step forward? Definitely! Of what do we speak? It's Freedom of Creation's latest successful venture into 3D printing using wood as the print material. 

 

Their new "Tree-D Printing" process involves using actual sawdust as print material. Their process is powder-based (or in this case, "sawdust-based", we suppose) in which very thin layers of sawdust are laid out, then the object's solid portions are fused with a binder. This is very similar to how other powder-based 3D printers operate, except that the print material here is significantly less expensive. Hey, it's wood! 

 

Their motivation is to bring 3D printing to the masses by simplifying the effort to acquire print material. While we ship the electronic 3D designs at the speed of light, we still must ship (often far distances) the print material, be it ABS plastic from China or a proprietary chemical mix from a manufacturer. Wood is straightforward to find practically anywhere with only limited shipping required. 

 

This secret wooden project has evidently been underway for over two years, and the technical dudes at FOC have been able to "3D print in a range of wood sorts from around the world". Here's the highlights of this still experimental technique:

 

• The wood must be reduced to a very fine sawdust
• The first prints have used teak and mahogany wood
• Object strength is said to be similar to MDF, which is pretty decent
• Print accuracy rivals laser sintering processes 
• Work continues to develop ways to print softer woods such as Balsa
• Print times are about half the speed of laser sintering (e.g. slow)
• Completed objects must be fished out of a tub of sawdust

 

We think this is a significant development, not only because wood is a far less expensive material that is typically available locally, but also because wood opens up more possibilities for 3D objects. There are plenty of applications both practical and artistic that will benefit from this new process. Wood just looks and feels different and will certainly be more appropriate for a wide range of new objects. 

 

When will we see the wood process available for general use? FOC plans on printing "interior products" using the process "later this year", but they do offer to partner with others.  

 

Via Freedom Of Creation 

 

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