Scientists have developed a vacuum-assisted extrusion method that reduces internal porosity — by up to 75% — in large-scale 3D-printed polymer parts. Large-scale additive manufacturing has been hindered by internal porosity that weaken printed components. Reducing porosity is key to improving overall performance. Researchers tackled this challenge with a novel approach: integrating a vacuum hopper during the extrusion process to remove trapped gases and minimize void formation in fiber-reinforced materials.
