Keep It Simple: Ceramic Kelvin Cells Via LCD‐SLA Printing

Additive manufacturing is the state‐of‐the‐art method for producing complex ceramic parts. For cellular materials, the freedom of design is particularly advantageous, as pore networks and shapes can be tailored. Here we determine the direct printing of complex parts with high porosity using the cost‐effective manufacturing method of LCD‐based stereolithography (VPP) on low cost printers. We investigate how the architecture of the alumina Kelvin cells topology, their fabrication process, the printing parameters and the microstructure affect the accuracy and mechanical properties of the printed samples. A notable reduction to a strut thickness of Kelvin cells down to 0.20 mm is achieved corresponding to a reduction of 1.5 compared with the state of the art literature (min. 0.35 mm). Ultra high porosities between 89.5 – 97.2 % and a maximum compressive strength of 1.84 ± 0.17 MPa are reached due to the dense struts of the structure. Low‐cost and simple VAT ceramic photopolymerization with high accuracy printing proved to be a promising candidate for the rapid and cost‐effective fabrication of highly porous and complex ceramic structures.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.