This chapter will describe the activity of Fenix project that consisted in developing the hardware, infrastructure and processes to make possible the re-use of the recycled metals through an Additive Manufacturing (AM) method called Direct Ink Writing (DIW). It will first explain what is DIW and why it is an interesting way to give added value to recycled materials specially metals. It will then focus on the working principles and the parts of a DIW machine and end with a conclusion of the adequacy of this technology to new circular business models for the recycling of Waste of Electric and Electronic Equipment (WEEE).
Additive Manufacturing (AM) has rapidly become an important technology in both research and industry. This development has allowed the evolution of 3D printers which are able to print complex geometries at low costs and faster than traditional methods. Despite this, most of these printers are either only for using one material or one technology. This limits a lot its use in different sectors such as aeronautics, automotive or health, because multi-material prototypes are needed. For example, surgeons need surgical planning prototypes for preoperative planning. These 3D printed prototypes have mainly been manufactured using just one technology. As a result, the prototypes have some main limitations: (1) do not actually mimic the anatomical structures of the human body, (2) high costs specially for Material Jetting and Powder Bed Fusion AM technologies. Therefore, the aim of present manuscript is the design, development, and commissioning of a hybrid multi-material 3D printer.
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