| Nov 08, 2013 | |
3D printed wooden objects |
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| (Nanowerk News) One of the questions that visitors to the Illinois MakerLab often ask is: “What types of materials can be 3D printed?” Most are surprised to hear that 3D printers can print a wide range of materials, including plastics, metals, ceramics, paper, food, and even biomaterials. | |
| However, most desktop 3D printers have been traditionally limited to various types of thermoplastics. For example, the MakerBot Replicator 2 printers used in the Lab mainly make objects out of PLA, which is a corn-based polymer. Although this material can be used to print a variety of both fun and useful objects, an expanded array of materials are in the process of development. | |
| The team has begun to experiment with new materials. For example, they recently acquired a wood-based polymer called Laywoo from Inventables. This new material is fed through the 3D printers just like plastic but produces objects that look like they were carved from wood. | |
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| The photo above shows a wooden gnome that was printed from this material. |
| Source: By Aric Rindfleisch, Illinois MakerLab | |
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