Cubicure’s Hot Lithography: Revolutionizing Industrial 3D Printing with High-Performance Polymers

Founded in 2015 by the visionary team of Prof. Dr. Jürgen Stampfl and Dr. Robert Gmeiner, Cubicure emerged with a clear mission: to elevate additive manufacturing to new heights, particularly for high-performance polymers in demanding industrial applications. The company’s innovative potential was quickly recognized, securing the S2B award from the Rudolf Sallinger Fonds and achieving second place in the prestigious “Call Pro Industry” funding program in its inaugural year. These early accolades underscored the promising future that lay ahead for Cubicure.

Since 2017, Cubicure has been at the forefront of the industry, offering a specially developed and patented 3D printing facility complemented by a unique range of materials designed to push the boundaries of what’s possible. To delve deeper into the latest advancements and the transformative benefits Cubicure brings to the additive manufacturing landscape, we recently had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Markus Pfaffinger, who leads the company’s business development efforts.

Meet Dr. Markus Pfaffinger and Discover Cubicure’s Innovation

Dr. Markus Pfaffinger brings a wealth of expertise to Cubicure. Having pursued Biomedical Engineering at the TU Wien, he subsequently earned his doctorate in mechanical engineering. His doctoral research focused specifically on the lithography-based additive manufacturing of ceramics, providing him with a profound understanding of advanced material processing. Dr. Pfaffinger joined Cubicure GmbH in 2017, where his extensive knowledge and strategic insights have been instrumental in driving the company’s business development.

Cubicure GmbH originated as a successful spin-off from the prestigious TU Wien in 2015. The company specializes in stereolithography-based additive manufacturing, specifically targeting the production of high-quality plastic components. Cubicure’s fundamental goal is to achieve an unparalleled combination of manufacturing precision and superior surface quality for its components, alongside robust thermo-mechanical properties. This unique approach allows for the production of truly functional polymer parts, moving beyond mere prototyping into end-use applications.

This ambitious objective is realized through a dual innovation strategy: the development of novel photopolymers in conjunction with an entirely new and innovative 3D printing process known as Hot Lithography. This powerful synergy of specialized materials and a groundbreaking process enables Cubicure to produce photopolymer-based plastic components that are perfectly suited for demanding industrial and technical environments, a feat previously challenging to achieve with conventional additive manufacturing methods.

Cubicure’s Revolutionary Materials: Unlocking Industrial Performance

At the core of Cubicure’s offering is a dedication to developing additive manufacturing solutions for polymer parts that exhibit exceptional characteristics. The primary aim is to achieve outstanding impact strength and high heat deflection temperatures, critical attributes for components used in rigorous industrial settings. Simultaneously, Cubicure prioritizes the highest possible surface quality, ensuring that printed parts not only perform robustly but also meet stringent aesthetic and functional requirements.

Cubicure provides an advanced portfolio of high-performance polymers specifically engineered for the additive manufacturing of polymer parts destined for a wide array of industrial applications, as well as robust objects for daily use. A defining characteristic of these innovative resins is their extremely high viscosity. Historically, such highly viscous materials have posed significant challenges, rendering them incompatible with conventional stereolithography production systems available on the market.

However, these specialized resins are not only developed but also meticulously optimized for seamless processing within Cubicure’s proprietary Hot Lithography-based 3D printer, the Caligma 200. This state-of-the-art machine is uniquely designed to handle and process highly viscous, photosensitive resins under precisely elevated temperatures. This capability is fundamental to unlocking the full potential of these advanced materials, allowing them to be formed into complex, high-performance parts with unprecedented accuracy and mechanical integrity. The synergy between Cubicure’s materials and its Hot Lithography technology represents a significant leap forward in polymer additive manufacturing.

The Power of Hot Lithography: A Game-Changing 3D Printing Process

The technological cornerstone of Cubicure’s innovation is its groundbreaking Hot Lithography process. The core of this technology revolves around a specially developed and patented heating and coating mechanism. This sophisticated system is engineered to proficiently handle and process resins and pastes with the highest levels of viscosity, operating effectively at elevated temperatures reaching up to 120°C. This capability directly addresses the limitations of traditional stereolithography, which typically struggles with highly viscous materials that offer superior mechanical properties once cured.

A critical aspect of the Hot Lithography process is its meticulous temperature control. Every process element within the Caligma 200 machine can be precisely regulated, ensuring uniform heating and preventing any undesirable temperature peaks or localized overheating. Such precision is paramount for maintaining material consistency and achieving optimal print quality. This advanced, patented hot coating technology is a key differentiator, enabling the stable processing of materials that would otherwise be impossible to use in additive manufacturing.

For the material exposure phase, Cubicure employs a high-precision laser-scanner system. This system offers versatility with available light wavelengths, specifically 375 nm in the UV range and 405 nm in the visible blue range. The ability to utilize these specific wavelengths significantly expands the range of processable materials. This includes filled and colored material systems, which are often challenging for standard stereolithography, as well as allowing for the precise printing of transparent and colorless parts. This flexibility in material handling and processing is what truly sets Hot Lithography apart, making it capable of additive processing for technically relevant plastics with unparalleled precision – a true first in the industry.

Hot Lithography fundamentally transforms the landscape of additive manufacturing by enabling the precise processing of technically demanding plastics. This allows for the creation of components that possess not only complex geometries but also the robust mechanical and thermal properties required for real-world industrial applications.

Tailored Solutions: The Advantage of Customizable 3D Printing Materials

In the realm of industrial parts and high-quality consumer products, the adage “shape on its own does not fulfill function” rings profoundly true. While intricate designs and complex geometries are undoubtedly important, the fundamental performance of a component is ultimately determined by the material from which it is made. The demands placed on materials are as varied and complex as the production environments and applications themselves, ranging from specific thermal resistance and chemical inertness to electrical conductivity or extreme durability.

Recognizing this critical need, Cubicure has committed itself to a core objective: to provide unparalleled support to its customers throughout their development and production projects. This commitment extends beyond simply providing advanced technology; it encompasses a deep understanding of application-specific requirements and the ability to tailor solutions accordingly.

Beyond offering its standard portfolio of high-performance photopolymers, such as Cubicure Evolution (ideal for functional prototyping applications demanding excellent mechanical properties) and Cubicure Precision (tailored for high-precision and micro parts where extreme detail and accuracy are paramount), Cubicure offers a highly valuable service: the possibility to customize material properties or even develop entirely new photopolymer formulations from scratch. This bespoke approach ensures that even the most niche or challenging application-specific requirements for 3D-printed polymer parts can be not only met but mastered, providing a significant competitive advantage to its industrial partners.

Cubicure’s Reach: Clients and Future Horizons in Additive Manufacturing

With its flagship production plant, the Caligma 200, Cubicure primarily targets industrial customers, particularly the research and development (R&D) departments within high-tech sectors. These industries demand the utmost in material performance and manufacturing precision, making Cubicure’s Hot Lithography technology an ideal fit. Beyond corporate R&D, the company also actively collaborates with leading research organizations that are pushing the boundaries of material science and additive manufacturing applications.

Cubicure’s diverse client base spans a multitude of industries, reflecting the broad applicability and transformative potential of its technology. These sectors include general engineering, where robust and precise components are crucial; the highly demanding suppliers industry; electronics, requiring intricate parts with specific electrical properties; energy, where components must withstand harsh conditions; aerospace, with its rigorous demands for lightweight and high-strength materials; and MedTech, where biocompatibility and extreme precision are non-negotiable. This wide adoption underscores the versatility and reliability of Cubicure’s solutions.

Furthermore, Cubicure is strategically interested in integrating its Hot Lithography technology into the portfolios of leading additive manufacturing service providers. This expansion strategy aims to make Cubicure’s advanced capabilities more accessible to a broader market, allowing more businesses to leverage the benefits of high-performance polymer 3D printing without necessarily investing in their own equipment initially. This collaboration will help democratize access to cutting-edge industrial additive manufacturing.

Looking ahead, Cubicure is steadfast in its commitment to continuous innovation. The company is constantly developing new materials and refining existing formulations. This ongoing research and development effort is crucial for expanding the fields of applications and attracting new customer industries for its proprietary Hot Lithography Technology. By consistently pushing the boundaries of material science and process technology, Cubicure aims to solidify its position as a leader in industrial additive manufacturing for high-performance polymers, enabling future innovations across various sectors.

Final Thoughts from Cubicure

Cubicure GmbH stands as an exemplary innovative, market-driven, and customer-oriented technology company. Our foundation is built on delivering cutting-edge solutions that solve real-world industrial challenges through advanced additive manufacturing.

We believe in open communication and collaboration. If you have any inquiries regarding our unique Hot Lithography process, our range of high-performance materials, or our flexible business model, please do not hesitate to reach out. Our team is always ready to discuss how Cubicure can support your next project and help you achieve your manufacturing goals.

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