New method for 3D printing 2-component silicone parts by KL Technik

Silicone Even More Flexible KL Technik is Breaking New Ground in Additive LSR Processing

2025-06-06 Source: KL Technik | Translated by AI 2 min Reading Time

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In a project with the Nuremberg University (Germany) of Applied Sciences, KL Technik has developed a new system for additive manufacturing of 2-component silicone components. Here are the details ...

In collaboration with TU Nuremberg, KL Technik has succeeded in improving 3D printing of 2-component silicone prototypes. A special feature is that materials approved for series production can also be printed.(Image: KL Technik) — In collaboration with TU Nuremberg, KL Technik has succeeded in improving 3D printing of 2-component silicone prototypes. A special feature is that materials approved for series production can also be printed.
(Image: KL Technik)

KL Technik and TU Nuremberg have developed a novel method for 3D printing of two-component silicone parts and have filed a patent for it. The prototype, named "FlexSiliconAdditive," enables for the first time the flexible and reproducible processing of commercially available two-component silicones—including highly viscous types used in industrial series production by injection molding (LSR). The crucial advantage is that the process allows printing with original materials that are also used in the later injection molding series. For users in development and prototype manufacturing, this means they benefit from higher process reliability, realistic tests, and shorter development cycles, as explained by KL Technik. The process essentially bridges the gap between prototype construction through 3D printing and series silicone processing. The result is functional samples made from exactly the material that will later be used in production.

This is How the New 3D Printing Process for 2-Component Silicone Works in Detail Now

The modular process, as further explained, is based on the combination of a standard Cartesian 3D printer with a special print head and a corresponding feed system. The two silicone components—base and hardener—are filled into standard cartridges via a specially developed refilling apparatus, which are then placed into a feed unit, according to KL Technik. They are then metered, mixed, and applied layer by layer to the print bed using an extruder. The curing of the part is done layer by layer with the help of a hot air blower mounted on the printer's carriage. To ensure the component is evenly heated, an identical "sacrificial part" is printed alongside the original component. During its formation, the carriage with the blower precisely follows the contour of the previously created layer—ensuring everything is cured accurately and reproducibly. To prevent uncontrolled material discharge or premature reactions during so-called extruder jumps (editor's note: "stick-slip" effect), the material is diverted into a designated reservoir via an integrated switching valve.

The Path of Additive Processing of 2-Component Silicone is Open to Everyone ...

The "FlexSiliconAdditive" system also allows for the production of complex geometries with overhangs using a support structure. It offers stable process control throughout all printing phases—from dosing and application to layer-by-layer curing. The current results hint at the technology's potential for industrial applications, such as in medical technology, sealing technology, electronics, or indeed for prototype construction. KL Technik is thus laying the foundation for new applications in 3D printing with production-ready 2-component silicone (LSR). Targeted partners are now being sought for technological development, participation in the patent, and for prototype and small-series production orders. Anyone who wishes to help shape this future area is warmly invited to take the next step together with KL Technik.

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