The Additive Manufacturing and Advanced Materials Laboratory is a research space focused on the development of advanced 3D printing applications within the scientific field. Its activity combines the fabrication of prototypes and devices with the study of new materials, the adaptation of printing systems, and the search for sustainable solutions linked to the circular economy.
The laboratory is equipped with a diverse infrastructure that includes four FDM 3D printers—two Creality machines, one Elegoo, and one QIDI—as well as two resin printers, one Creality and one Elegoo. This combination of technologies makes it possible to work with different materials and levels of precision, providing a versatile platform for the development of parts and systems with scientific and technological interest.
Among the available equipment, a modified Creality Ender 3 Pro stands out. It has been fitted with a Mahor XYZ v4 pellet extrusion head, which has also been adapted for powder printing. This system makes it possible to process mixtures based on ground PLA combined with other components, including nanomaterials such as Fe₃O₄. Using these formulations, mixtures of up to three components have been developed in order to provide the printed parts with functional properties of interest, such as electrical conductivity and magnetic behavior.
The laboratory also includes a Felfil filament extruder, which is being used in a research line focused on the reuse of plastics recovered from the sea as raw material for 3D printing. This work reflects a commitment to waste valorization, the development of alternative materials, and the incorporation of sustainability criteria into manufacturing processes.