International Partner Search

Research & Development Request

EUREKA – SMART: Formulator or/and producer of plastic resins and thermoplastics for additive manufacturing (AM) is required

Country of Origin: Spain
Reference Number: RDES20180508001
Publication Date: 8 May 2018

Summary

A Spanish research center searches SMEs to participate in a EUREKA-SMART project aimed to develop highly conductive resins and materials to be processed by specific 3D printing technologies for industrial applications. Two SMEs are sought to be in charge of the modification and/or scaling up of processes, one for photo-curable resins and another one for conductive plastic. It is needed that they have checked with their National Contact Point the availability of funds to participate.

Description

A Spanish research center searches SMEs to participate in a EUREKA-SMART project with the objective of developing highly conductive resins and materials to be processed by SLS, SLA/DLP and FDM technologies for industrial applications. SLS (Selective Laser Sintering), SLA/DLP (Stereolithography/Digital Light Processing), and FDM (Fused Deposition Modelling) are different technologies to be used in the 3D printing manufacturing. Each technology has its own set of strengths and weaknesses and will define the characteristics of the printed object.



The consortium is looking for two profiles of SMEs: one will be in charge of the modification and/or scaling up of photo-curable resins (phenolic or acrylic resins) with conductive fillers for SLA or DLP. The other one is for scaling up conductive plastic material for SLS and FFF processes (Fused Filament Fabrication, a 3D printing process that uses a continuous filament of a thermoplastic material). The partner must be included in the following SMART – Eureka countries: Czech Republic, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, South Korea and Sweden. In case of belonging to an interested SMART country (Austria, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Slovenia and Switzerland) it is required that they have consulted their National Contact Point the availability of funds to participate in the program.



The role of the partner in the project will be to set the specifications within its scope of knowledge and re-formulate/ scale the conductive material.



The proposal is ready to be adapted to the entrant company and apply it at the next SMART-EUREKA cut-off on June, 11th.



Smart-Eureka conditions depend on each country. They can be consulted through your National Contact Point (NCP) at https://www.smarteureka.com/en/submit-your-proposal/funding-and-countries/



The consortium is currently made up of two RTDs and two SMEs.



The centre that searches the partners is the Toy Research Institute, in Spain, a non profit organisation whose aim is to transfer the toy, childcare & leisure manufacturers the last innovations & technologies available in order to give support and enhance the long-term feasibility of these traditional industries. It has a team of near 100 people and the infrastructures to undertake the required research. It is a notified body in the European Union to carry out tests on toy safety.



It has a technologies and testing department (product development, thermoplastic materials, physical and chemical analysis of raw material or finished product, rapid manufacturing, product safety according to applicable standards, etc.), the engineering department (innovation management, virtual reality, ICT, environment.) and pedagogy department. 



The area intended to undertake this project is the innovative materials and manufacturing area which has a great experience in the development of new materials for both, traditional and additive manufacturing technologies. It also belongs to ISO TC261 on additive manufacturing technologies.



A university with high experience degree on additive manufacturing and post-processing is also involved.



Furthermore two companies are now involved: A mould manufacturing organisation that produces its own EDM electrodes and a 3D printing service provider. 



The formulations will be adapted, applied and tested in several AM manufacturing processes (LS, SLA/DLP and FDM) aiming the manufacturing of tooling for its industrial scaling-up and later fully industrialization.



Anticipated duration of the project: 36 months from 1 December 2018.



Call Deadline: 11th June 2018

EoIs Deadline: 4th June 2018

Advantages and Innovations

Reduced lead times and costs. Higher EDM electrodes precision and intricate shapes.

Stage Of Development

Proposal under development

Requested partner

-	Type of partner sought:

SMEs that fulfill SMART-Eureka requirements. Non-Spanish, non-Turkish.



-	Specific area of activity of the partner:

o	Formulator of new photo-curable resins.

o	Formulator of thermoplastics for 3D filaments

o	Formulator of SLS materials

o	Scale of SLS materials, photo-curable resins and/or FFF filaments.



-	Task to be performed:

Set the specifications within its scope of knowledge and re-formulate/ scale up the conductive material.