Lockheed Martin, an American company specialized mainly in aerospace security issues, mainly dedicated to the research, development and manufacture of advanced systems and services, has just surprised the world of 3D printing with the presentation of a somewhat peculiar patent since they show the processes required to create a printer capable of create synthetic diamonds in almost any shape.
This new machine would have been designed by the inventor David G Findley And it could be ideal for creating ultra-strong tools such as saws, knives, drills, and even light armor. Mainly, as announced by the Lockheed Martin company, it will serve to continue to develop the company's most advanced combat aircraft although, the possibilities of it are really impressive since it could be present in a multitude of markets.
Lockheed Martin shows designs for a hypothetical diamond 3D printer
Going into a little more detail, we are faced with a 3D printer that would use a pre-ceramic filler nanoparticle polymer. To this we must add that the machine must make use of two main materials of ceramic powder and pre-ceramic polymer. The printer heads deposit this material layer by layer until the desired object is formed, which must later be baked at high temperatures. Finally, and as usual, the excess dust of the figure must be removed.
The difference between the Lockheed Martin patent and the rest of ceramic printing methods is that it specifies the possibility of printing objects that form synthetic diamonds thanks to its pre-ceramic polymer and the pyrolysis method which is the one used for its creation.
As announced by those responsible for the project, one of the advantages of the new printer in addition to developing ultra-resistant tools is the possibility of mixing materials such as multiple types of pre-ceramic polymers and ceramic powders that combined offer different technical advantages, with ceramics that can resist up to 1.400 ºC.
