ETH spin-off aims to achieve carbon breakthrough

Carbon is stronger than steel but up to five times lighter, making it an ideal material for use in aircraft, medical prostheses and implants. And yet carbon fibre composites are very expensive to produce because the manufacturing process is very time-consuming, according to an article from ETH Zurich.

ETH spin-off 9T Labs offers an attractive alternative: Its 3D printer can print carbon fibre composite parts without using cumbersome moulds. The components are instead designed on a computer using dedicated software and then manufactured by the printer.

“We combine the advantages of 3D printing technology with the valuable properties of carbon fibre composites,” said Giovanni Cavolina, one of the founders of 9T labs.

Their new technology both reduces the high manufacturing costs and makes it possible to produce components with highly complex geometric shapes. Using a 3D printer also means less material waste.

The three founders of 9T Labs – Cavolina, Martin Eichenhofer and Chester Houwink – founded a joint-stock company in January that attracted 300,000 Swiss francs from investors. The European Space Agency also invited the company to join an incubation centre.

“There are many different potential applications for our printed carbon fibre components, and there is a huge amount of interest from industry,” said Eichenhofer.

9T Labs is currently fine-tuning the prototype 3D printer, and a complete printing system comprising both hardware and software should be ready for beta testing at the start of next year.

“We believe it is important for the business to be geared towards the market. We therefore want to get a product onto the market as quickly as possible, so we can generate useful feedback,” added Cavolina.

9T Labs is rapidly expanding to help it achieve its goals. Eight staff currently work for 9T Labs, “with another four set to join over the course of the year”.