CIM UPC is a Technological Research Center affiliated to the UPC – “Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya” dedicated to R&D and knowledge transfer in relevant fields of manufacturing, automation and production management. CIM UPC is distinguished as a reference centre in Manufacturing technologies, technological projects, research, innovation and training for industries. CIM UPC is very intensive in machinery and production applications, with highly innovative labs in machining, rapid prototyping, additive manufacturing, metrology and state-of-the-art processes for manufacturing. The research and development activities of the CIM UPC are focused on production technologies, addressing the applicability and sustainability of the solutions materialized. The services offered are the result of more than 20 years of background in the field of production technologies and, as a result, CIM UPC counts on specialists in the areas of systems engineering, manufacturing, automation, robotics, mechanics and design, which can contribute to solve in a holistic manner the problems of existing systems of industrial production.

The main research lines are focused on two main technologies (Direct Ink Writing (DIW) and hybridization of AM technologies) and two main applications (3D Printing for Health and Concrete 3D Printing).

1.1 Direct Ink Writing

The Direct Ink Writing (DIW) Research Line develops new 3D printing systems using DIW or Robocasting technology based on the material requirements that must be fulfilled. The main areas of research are:

1. Rheology and characterization of inks
2. Development and manufacture of 3D printing machines using DIW technology
3. Small series production
4. Sintering and heat treatments
5. Inspection and characterization of materials and final parts

It is worth mentioning the participation on projects such as FENIX, AMFEED, TRANSPORT, INK3D, among others.

1.2 Hybrid 3D Manufacturing

The objective and main challenge in the Hybrid 3D Manufacturing Research Line is to increase the number of materials used in a single printing process, enabling the manufacture of multi-material objects. The main activity is to develop, optimize and integrate different manufacturing technologies to obtain hybrid additive manufacturing systems.

We highlight our participation in projects such as HYBRI3D, AMFEED, TRANSPORT, NET3D+, among others.

1.3 3D Printing For Health

The objective of this Research Line is the transformation of the surgical practice through the incorporation of Additive Manufacturing at three levels: surgical trial models, reconstruction guides and implants, and bioactive implants for tissue regeneration. One of the most interesting benefits of this technology in the biomedical sector is the individualization of treatments. The main fields of application of the 3D Printing for Health line are:

1. Printing of medical prostheses
2. 3D tissue bio-printing
3. Printing of surgical and pre-surgical prototypes and models
4. Impression of biocompatible implants

It is worth mentioning the participation in projects such as James Bone, QuirofAM, INK3D, among others.

1.4 Concrete 3D Printing

The main objective of the Concret 3D Printing Reseaqrch Line is to develop new techniques and processes for 3D printing of ceramic materials on a large scale for the construction of buildings or prefabricated products, becoming a world reference in the new concept of Construction 4.0. The main advantages offered by the incorporation of 3D printing to the construction sector are:

1. The elimination of the geometric restrictions imposed by other construction technologies.
2. The ability to manufacture fully customized structures without increasing costs.
3. The notable reduction in emissions from CO₂ compared to the current one caused by conventional processes.
4. The potential reduction in time and costs compared to traditional technologies
5. The recovery of waste materials / site, using them as raw materials in a clear process of circular economy.

It is worth mentioning our participation in projects such as HINDCON, 3DCONS and Print&Build, among others

CIM UPC also has a broad proved experience in development of industrial processes through the global value chain, from the design of the product until the delivery. Concretly, CIM UPC is expert in the fields of additive manufacturing (polyjet technology, SLS, wax printing, FFF, SLM, SLA, ASTRA painting cabine)  numerical control machining (machining CNC centers, multi-axis machining centers, CNC turning, turning and conventional milling with machine), rapid tooling (silicone molds, molds by laminate of compounds, fast aluminum molds), metrology (Roundness measurement equipment, Laser scanner, Laser Interferometer, Coordinate measuring machine, 3D Rugosimeter by contact), and special processes (Wire EDM). 

CIM UPC created BCN3D Technologies in 2012, a spin-off focused on the manufacture of desktop 3D printers that are commercialized around the world.