Why VLM™?
This never-seen-before technology has been derived to specifically address BCN3D’s vision of unlocking manufacturing autonomy, where all manufacturers can experience full control over every stage in their production processes with AM solutions.
Devised to provide manufacturing autonomy to the industry, VLM™ is the first additive manufacturing technology to simultaneously accomplish the three main pillars of providing superb part performance, a high production capacity, and accessible and frictionless operation.
Gain full control over every stage of your production processes
VLM™ Technology Adoption Program:
Test it out for yourself
We’ve created a VLM 3D printing applications center, complete with dedicated AM specialists,
and a program for innovators to be the first to try this breakthrough technology.
Watch VLM™
make its debut
VLM™ (Viscous Lithography Manufacturing) is a patented breakthrough lithography-based 3D printing process that laminates thin layers of high viscosity resins – 50x times more viscous than standard market resins – onto a transparent transfer film to produce high-performance parts extremely quickly and in an affordable and scalable way.
How does VLM™ work?
First, the resin is picked up by a roller, laminated to the underside of a transparent film, then transferred to the printing area. The build plate rises to come into contact with the recently laminated resin at the desired layer thickness. The UV light engine cures the resin solely in the specified area to create the new layer of the object to be printed. The build plate retreats, peeling the recently cured layer from the film, while the unused resin is recovered and recirculated up to the reservoir.
Multi-material 3D printing
VLM™’s mechanical system allows the resin to be laminated from both sides of the film, making it possible to implement strategies to speed up printing times or even to combine different resins to get multi-material parts and easy-to-remove support structures.
Superb Part Performance
VLM™ is capable of working with resins 50 times more viscous than standard ones. Without a strict low viscosity constraint, the chemist obtains the freedom to formulate as a whole new set of ingredients and modifiers can be added to achieve the desired effect on thermal and mechanical properties.
3x
Impact resistance
Compared to industry-standard resins+200%
Tear strength
Compared to industry-standard resins
Prodrive pits end-use parts created with VLM™ technology against treacherous terrain
Prodrive is enrolled in the Technology Adoption Program. Apply here.
World-leading motorsport and advanced technology company Prodrive trusts parts made with VLM™ for its cross-country rally cars. For this design and manufacture of high-performance components, VLM™ provides engineering materials, complex geometries, and good surface finish.
High Production Capacity
VLM™ is a resin-based technology that, by using a light source consisting of UV light and an LCD screen, is an affordable and productive solution. It delivers a constant time per layer, regardless of whether we are printing one or 100 parts at once.
Speed
Best-in-class fabrication layer timeSpeed
Best-in-class fabrication layer timeVolume
Big printing surface through an LCD screenVolume
Big printing surface through an LCD screenAFFORDABLE
Unparalleled cost per partAFFORDABLE
Unparalleled cost per part
Saint Gobain’s manufacture of 7000 positioning fixtures in 7 days and annual savings of 70.000€ with VLM™ technology
Saint Gobain is enrolled in the Technology Adoption Program. Apply here.
Tier 1 automotive glass manufacturer Saint Gobain was looking to increase its rate of efficiency in robotic processes throughout its production line and found VLM™ to be by far the best option for this large batch production.
Accessible and Frictionless
SOLUTIONS UNDER 50K€
SOLUTIONS UNDER 50K€
ZERO WASTE
ZERO WASTE
EASY OPERATION
EASY OPERATION
VLM™ Technology Adoption Program:
Test it out for yourself
We’ve created a VLM 3D printing applications center, complete with dedicated AM specialists,
and a program for innovators to be the first to try this breakthrough technology.
Material Partners
Capitalizing on the singularities of VLM™ is key to obtaining properties otherwise unreachable with existing resin-based 3D printing techniques. For this reason, we are partnering with best-in-class resin manufacturers Arkema and Henkel.
“We have worked alongside BCN3D by adapting our existing products to their needs and supporting them closely. Together, we have built a road map to develop best-in-class materials and respond effectively to a broad list of specifications, while being strongly driven by use cases and real-life projects.”
– Hélène Egret, Europe 3D Market Manager at Arkema
“VLM removes the limitations of viscosity and allows the printing of a wide range of new materials which we have witnessed firsthand over the last few years of collaboration. We look forward to seeing the tremendous impact VLM technology brings to the AM market together with new Henkel Industrial resins.”
– Sam Bail, Director of 3D Printing & Partnerships at Henkel.