What Z-corp ink is made of

Wow, it's nice watching this thread continue to mature. My hobbyist 3d printer project is slowly getting off the ground, and a _very_ rudimentary wiki is taking shape at [laprap.pbwiki.com] . Some of the data there is outdated (like the laptop giveaways, alas), but there is already a small core of builders coming together for coding and mechanical design of a prototype.

Other contributers are welcome, though there's not much to contribute _to_, yet. Feel free to come visit, though, and shoot me emails with questions and whatnot - it will spur me to write more and fill things out on the wiki.

Look at the MSDS then try the millions of different combinations..make sure the print heads are firing at the right temperature and straight...try a bunch of different dye concentration..find the right saturations and

mycroftxxx Wrote:
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> there is already a
> small core of builders coming together for coding
> and mechanical design of a prototype.

Is the core of builders corresponding/blogging somewhere online? I would like to follow the progress.

Scorch

No, no blogging yet. I guess we'll have to start one. And do some photography. So far, there isn't much to see. Materials consist of a cardboard box containing parts from a Dell 720 and a scanner. Otherwise, most of the work has been done on pen and paper or in folk's heads. We will start assembly of some of the parts as soon as we get the arduino and motor control shield in.

mycroftxxx Wrote:
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> No, no blogging yet. I guess we'll have to start
> one. And do some photography. So far, there
> isn't much to see. Materials consist of a
> cardboard box containing parts from a Dell 720 and
> a scanner. Otherwise, most of the work has been
> done on pen and paper or in folk's heads. We will
> start assembly of some of the parts as soon as we
> get the arduino and motor control shield in.

Cool, count me in.

Check this out:

Fully functional 3D printer
[www.youtube.com]

He has posted additional info in:
[tech.groups.yahoo.com]

It looks like he is using Durone 4 Brand dental plaster and maltodextrin.

The Yahoo group is new. They are just getting started.

Looks like the place to be for 3D inkjet printing.

Scorch

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/12/2008 12:19AM by Scorch.

And the "most important" question:
[tech.groups.yahoo.com]

Quote

here is a description of what the powder is made of.
It's just dental plaster ( Durone 4 Brand) + 30% of weight
maltodextrin( midway brand, guarana with acai flavor).
I did try some other flavors but it doesn't work well as this one.
I don't know why, maybe the guarana or acai helps on bonding.
I did try just maltodextrose but it won't work as good as the one
mentioned.
I'm using just destilated water on the printer cartridge.
the heater on the building chamber helps the water to dry out
faster,and stay on that layer only.Plus the models won't need to go to
the owen to dry out.It's made of a 40w soldering iron screwed to the
alluminum plate on the building bin.
I'll be posting more pictures of next week.

'sid

Where is everyone getting their empty HP printer cartridges?

Thanks,

Jeremy

Edit:

Opps, really shouldn't read posts when half awake

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/02/2008 07:02AM by xsainnz.

Wow, that plaster binding thing looks great!

Perhaps we could encorporate this in a RepRap... an ink-cartridge toolhead. Then we would have:
- thermoplast extruder (additive)
- milling heads (subtractive)
- CMM-probe (3D top surface scanning)
- paste extruder (candy fabbing!)
- TBD: ink-cartridge toolhead (we'll need a rod to spread the powder too...)

It's getting one hell of a versatile machine!

---

Regards,

Erik de Bruijn
[Ultimaker.com] - [blog.erikdebruijn.nl]

Dear All, I just found this post while searching for Zcorp patents.

I have been formulating Z-like powders/binders for years. I've
had several MS/Phd students work in this area. I would like to
share a quick and easy workable powder/binder system with this group.

Powder:

1000 parts by weight(PBW) Plaster of Paris
250 PBW extra-fine sugar (not powdered)
250 PBW maltodexin (use Bene-fiber if all else fails)

Binder:

1 parts by volume (PBV) 105 proof vodka
2 PBV distilled water
Food coloring to make your favorite color.

This is a solvent binder style system. Leave parts in powder bed
at least an hour, then bake 80 C (for 40 minutes). Post-process
with favorite compounds.

...Mark

MarkGanter Wrote:
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> Binder:
>
> 1 parts by volume (PBV) 105 proof vodka
> 2 PBV distilled water
> Food coloring to make your favorite color.

The binder is 1/3 Vodka?
That implies that the correct case design for a printer would be found here:[www.wymenfan.com]

> The binder is 1/3 Vodka?
> That implies that the correct case design for a printer would be found here:[www.wymenfan.com]

ROTFLOL!!!

Mark, great work. There's work on another 3D printer design with ink here:
[tech.groups.yahoo.com]

Your hint about good powder + binders will help them out, I think!

---

Regards,

Erik de Bruijn
[Ultimaker.com] - [blog.erikdebruijn.nl]

Mark, Thanks for the tip.

Do you have a project page or blog describing your groups work?
Scorch

Scorch, not really (not yet).

But I will tell you that we are currently working on
printing "fireable art ceramics". We are working on our
third type of ceramic and after it's characterised I will
be submitting journal articles.

Also, I have a group working on our second version of a
personal 3D printer (P3P).

We also have two fab@homes which we have done many student
projects including printing ceramics and glass!

p.s. Keep the grad students away from the binder.

Ahh.. Yes, the group from the University of Washington. (My alma mater)

Sounds like interesting work, good luck.

I did see a small page about P3P a while back.
[staff.washington.edu]

Not sure if it would help you guys, but they have a zcorp machine where I used to work, I have a timelapse of it running, as well as some video. I could probably get back there to get some more info for you guys if you need.

Are there specific things you want to know from that type of machine?

-Tom

Following through this older post here. Has anyone made any leeway on finding a successful mix that will work with basic InkJet heads?

I am considering this inkjet method for my powder bed as apposed to the UV Laser masking method that is going to run me more.

Will a powdered plastic resin work for this? If so, water is all that would to be fed from the inkjet, or bubblejet heads which appears from other member testing to be pretty easy.

Here is a product I found at a local hardware store:
[www.idealtruevalue.com]


And a little more info on these products:
[www.woodweb.com]


Thoughts? I plan on picking this up tomorrow and filling my cartridges with water for a go round.

the new ZCorp powder are much finer than previous one .

Hi - decided to cancel my question ...

All the best,

Jesper

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/23/2012 12:59PM by evalon.

Why Did everyone stop?
pete

lol, dunno. I have a Z150. Been doing a lot of messing around with over the past year. Something you want to know?

docsavage777 Wrote:
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> Why Did everyone stop?
> pete


Yes - why did this topic grind to a halt?

Did it move to a different location?

(my interest is to be able to print out a mold I can pour hot copper into and an additive mold idea would work just as well
for my needs as doing a additive wax model to then be used as lost wax.)

Based off my research on metal. All sintering powders are simply a water soluble organic polymer (i.e. Carboxy Methyl Cellulose) that is 99% vulcanized at high temp. They are sticky gels when they dry down. PVA is another. These polymers have the unique property that when they are dried down, they are ridiculously tough, and difficult to rehydrate. The patents are expired now, btw.


Gene Hacker Wrote:
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> I think I just figured out what Z-Corp ink is made
> of. Apparently, they list out most of the
> ingredients in the MSDS's for the powder and ink.
> Turn out Z-Corp powder is just overpriced plaster
> and Z-Corp binder is water with pigments in it.
>
> Binder
> [www.tech.plymouth.ac.uk]
> f
> Powder
> [www.tech.plymouth.ac.uk]
> df
> Sulfate salt is probably Calcium Sulfate. Vinyl
> polymer is probably polyvinyl alcohol or polyvinyl
> acetate, which are substances used in glues.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/30/2013 05:47PM by Simba.