Technology & Materials
Composite-Based Additive Manufacturing (CBAM)
When your project demands metal-like rigidity and minimal weight without the wait, CBAM technology delivers...
What is Composite Based Additive Manufacturing?
Composite Based Additive Manufacturing (CBAM) is a high-speed industrial 3D printing process designed to bridge the gap between traditional plastics and high-performance metals. Unlike standard 3D printing (which often melts plastic filament or fuses loose powder), CBAM uses long-fiber fabric sheets — such as Carbon Fibre or Fiberglass — as the structural foundation. This results in parts that are significantly stiffer, lighter, and more thermally stable than almost any other additive method.
How does CBAM work?
It follows a unique "Print, Stack, Press" workflow, ensuring industrial-grade precision.
- Inkjet Patterning: The process begins with a base sheet of long-fiber material. An industrial-grade inkjet head prints a proprietary fluid (the "ink") onto the sheet in the precise shape of the 3D cross-section.
- Powder Application: High-performance polymer powder, such as PA12 (Nylon), is swept across the sheet. The powder only adheres to the areas treated with the fluid, while the rest of the sheet remains dry.
- Layer Stacking: This process repeats, stacking sheet upon sheet until the entire 3D geometry of the object is formed within a "block" of fiber layers.
- Heat and Compression: The stack is placed in a high-temperature oven and compressed. The heat melts the polymer powder, fusing the fibers and the plastic together into a dense, solid composite matrix.
- Extraction: Once cooled, the un-fused fiber (the areas where no ink was printed) is removed via mechanical or chemical means. What remains is a finished, high-strength part with the internal "skeleton" of continuous fiber reinforcement.
THE RESULT: Parts produced via CBAM process, exhibit virtually zero warpage, exceptional dimensional accuracy, and a strength-to-weight ratio that makes them a viable, lightweight alternative to CNC-machined aluminum.
