BMW fund backs elastomer 3D printing technology firm

Mountain View, California - BMW I Ventures  has recently announced a 'seed investment' in Rapid Liquid Print (RLP) an elastomer 3D printing firm.

RLP combines the benefits of 3D printing of elastomer materials with a "revolutionary" gel-printing technology. said the corporate venture capital investment arm of BMW Group.

The US firm emerged from research in the field of additive manufacturing at Massachusetts Institute of Technology's 'self-assembly lab '.

The technology uses industry-standard soft rubber, silicone and foam materials to produce flexible products without tooling or time-intensive washing.

The technology can be used to produce large-scale items, for example for medical, apparel, and automotive applications, said Californian backer BMW I Ventures.

Conventional 3D printing generally lacks the speed, scale and quality required to fabricate commercially-ready elastomeric products, especially large self-supporting items.

RLP's addressed these limitations by developing a 3D printing solution that prints soft materials by dispensing the printing material within a gel. 

With 3D files are uploaded to the company’s CAM software, the printer dispenses the printing material within a gel bath. The part cures within the gel with no need to apply heat or UV, removed from the gel and washed with water. 

Unlike other techniques, RLP's printing technology can produce multiple rubber-like 3D printed products, in minutes rather than hours or days.

Even large-scale objects can be manufactured, such as a hammock structure that was printed in an eight-feet diameter tank. The process also eliminates the need the use of support structures during printing.

Moreover, RLP uses printing materials from established suppliers, allowing for properties expected from an elastomeric product, such as very soft to soft shore values.

"Our investment will support RLP as they further develop their 3D printing solutions to expand within existing customers and into new customers with additional applications and materials," concluded BMW I Ventures.