Ongoing projects
Collaborative project: Development of self-forming, curved wooden furniture; Sub-project 2: Material characterization and long-term behaviour of the self-forming elements - Acronym: SefoMoe
Project leader: Prof. Dr. Markus Rüggeberg
Duration: 01.07.2023 - 30.06.2026
Project sponsor: FNR
Seating furniture often consists of curved components. In wooden seating furniture, the curvatures are realized by external forces using individually shaped pressing tools. The aim of the project is to realize curved wooden components for seating furniture in a novel self-forming process. The process is based on the anisotropic structure of the wood, which is reflected in the anisotropic shrinkage behavior. In a bilayer with a crosswise arrangement of the two glued layers, this leads to a curvature in the drying process that can be programmed "into the material" and predicted. The aim is to develop locking mechanisms that lock into place at a predetermined curvature and greatly limit the curvature variability caused by inhomogeneity in the wood anatomy, thereby ensuring precision and dimensional stability. The curved shape is realized without external forces and pressing tools. This enables flexible production with different curvatures and geometries for small and medium-sized companies. By relocating the drying process immediately before the furniture is used, it can be transported while still flat, which leads to a significant reduction in transport volume. Together with a digital design and a new design language, the overarching goal of the project is to use self-forming technology to enable economical, customer-centric individualization in furniture construction, one of the key aspects of "Industry 4.0".
Joint project: Additive manufacturing in the toy and furniture industry. Sub-project A: Technology development with application partners: Material development and upscaling - Acronym: AFIN
Project leader: Prof. Dr. Markus Rüggeberg
Duration: 01.12.24 - 31.05.26
Project sponsor: PT-J (BMBF)
The AFIN project aims to transfer the technology of additive manufacturing with wood-based materials into practice. As part of the transfer strategy, entrepreneurs in Saxony and beyond are to be shown the possibilities of the new technology. Interested parties are to be identified, 3D printing is to be demonstrated in workshops, new application possibilities are to be developed and the material and technology are to be further developed together with the practical partners. The overall objective is to create a regional 3D printing innovation ecosystem that lays the foundations for greater sustainability in wood processing.
Sub-project A has several objectives:
- To attract the attention of potential users of the technology through publications in specialist print media.
- Research results are to be communicated in workshops.
- New areas of application are to be developed.
- The feedback given by workshop participants is to be evaluated in a targeted manner.
- The technology (material and process) should be further developed on the basis of user feedback.
- The technology must be adapted to the needs of the users.
The following video entitled "Revolutionizing 3D-Printing of Wood with Liquid Deposition Modelling" gives an impression of Dr. Michael Rosenthal's innovative research:
3D printing with wood-based materials. Development of a resource-efficient, additive manufacturing technology for the production of durable consumer goods
Project leader: Prof. Dr. Markus Rüggeberg
Duration: 01.10.2023 - 30.09.2025
Project sponsor: DBU
Liquid Deposition Modeling (LDM) is a promising additive manufacturing process for processing wood-based materials. The pasty material is produced from binders, water and wood residues in flour or chip form. For example, chip material produced in joineries can be used, which until now has primarily been used to generate energy. The innovative technology is aimed at several environmentally relevant goals: it serves the cascade use or upcycling of residual materials, follows the circular economy approach in wood use and contributes to the sequestration of carbon in durable goods.
Due to the nature of the process, the material is processed in a moist state, which means that only pressure heights of up to 20 cm are possible to date (higher objects collapse under their own load). The current state of development is already sufficient for various applications. As part of the project, the prototype of a guitar frame is to be produced in cooperation with a musical instrument maker.
In addition, further development of the technology for the production of larger objects is planned. On the one hand, this concerns the material. Various options for accelerating material solidification are to be examined, tested in scientific studies and adapted mixtures developed. Secondly, the subsequent joining of segments offers the possibility of producing larger objects. An intelligent joining system for 3D-printed elements is to be developed.