Vader Systems create 3-D Printer For Printing with Liquid Metal

Link Posted on January 15, 2017

3-D printing liquid metal with Vader Systems

University of Buffalo student Zack Vader has created a machine that prints three-dimensional objects using liquid metal.

According to Professor Edward P. Furlani  of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Electrical Engineering departments of University at Buffalo, Vader’s process uses a magnetic field to manipulate conductive fluids.  The magnetic field is used to create pressure for squeezing the liquid out of an ejector nozzle.

According to Furlani “It’s a transformative technology.  It’s very exciting interdisciplinary engineering. I think its application base will continue to broaden and expand for the foreseeable future.”

According to Chi Zhou, Assistant Professor at University of Buffalo, “I can see at this stage that it can complement traditional metal printing, but later, maybe 10 years later, it can dominate the metal printing market because it can print better quality, cheaper and faster.”

Vader’s 3-D printer can be used in future for making custom knee and hip replacements.