Development of a novel three‐dimensional printing technology for the application of “raised” surface features

Abstract

AbstractA simple procedure to ink‐jet print raised images using two water‐soluble inorganic inks is reported and it has the potential to be utilised in domestic and commercial environments. The advantages of such a procedure lies in the ability to print moulded objects, Braille type and to engineer special gonio‐specific effects that may have value in the security printing area. The study focuses on printing gypsum through the ready precipitation of calcium sulphate dihydrate by co‐jetting calcium chloride and ammonium sulphate solutions. The results in this preliminary study are encouraging and offer a potential method for durable surface structuring of material surfaces with haptic and visual effects for both the blind and the sighted.