MX3D is a research-led company making waves in the design of additive manufacturing systems. We spoke with CEO Gijs van der Velden and Lead Engineer Thomas van Glabeke to discuss the MX3D story, some of the company’s most exciting recent developments in wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM), and what it can mean for the stainless steel industry.
By Ellie Pritchard, Stainless Steel World. Images courtesy of MX3D
“Initially, we were just curious about how we could print 3D metal forms in a way we hadn’t experienced before,” Gijs begins. It was the company’s open approach to sharing their experiments and successes in social media that grasped the attention of manufacturer Arcelor Mittal and software company Autodesk. “They challenged us to do something beyond our wildest dreams,” says Gijs. This challenge led to MX3D’s highest-profile project to date – the 3D-printed 12-metre-long stainless steel bridge.
“When we first started, nobody believed that it would be useful or interesting for industrial purposes. But the bridge was a runway to develop not only the technology, but also the market – it was a symbol of what could be achieved.”
