This document summarizes Photocentric, a company formed in 2002 that manufactures 3D printers using LCD screen technology. Key points include: - Photocentric invented using LCD screens for stereolithography printing in 2005 and has 150 employees between the UK and US with 4 granted and 14 pending patents. - Their LCD screen technology offers benefits over laser and DLP methods such as being lower cost, offering higher resolution, and providing simpler, more reliable systems. - In addition to photopolymers, Photocentric is developing LCD-based 3D printing of ceramics and metals with high material loading and density for applications such as heat exchangers and implants. - They are seeking

2. Formed in 2002 to
manufacture a
patented package of
photopolymer.
Invented concept of
using LCD screens as
image source in SLA
printing in 2005.
Employ 110 people in
Peterborough and 40
in Phoenix USA. 4 granted patents
in LCD 3D printing,
14 pending.
Started in 3D printing
with an Innovate grant
in to develop
an LCD prototype
printer
in addition to £0.5m of
Innovate R&D grants
Investment in
R&D 2019
Running
UK Govt. Innovate
grants; Liquid Metal
and Colossus.
Winner of 2
Queens Awards.
Innovation 2016 &
International Trade
2018

3. SLA / LCD photopolymer

4. Process is too slow…
20 cm³ high print takes around 8
hours to make.
Why?
Lasers, inkjets or digital light
projectors polymerise a single pixel
or a small area at a time.
How are LCD’s transformative?
LCD arrays uniquely, expose the
entire area of the screen
simultaneously.
Printers are too expensive…
Amortised printer costs add
disproportionately to final part cost.
Why?
Manufacturers make excess
profits. DLP and laser technology is
more expensive than LCD screens
How are LCD’s transformative?
LCD screens are the lowest cost digital
image device ever.
Consumables are too expensive…
Cost of a 3D printed plastic part is about
£700/kg or 150 times injection moulding.
Why?
Printer manufacturers sell to markets
which can afford to pay. They tend to
focus on engineering, outsourcing
chemistry. Pricing model follows 2D
printer ink strategy.
How is Photocentric transformative?
We make everything, price it on our basis and
offer value for scaled-up manufacture.

6. LC PIXEL LC DENTAL LC MAGNA LC MAXIMUS
SPECIFICATION
Screen size
Build volume
Pixel pitch size

7. LC PIXEL LC DENTAL LC MAGNA LC MAXIMUS
Build volume
comparison
Pixel pitch size
LC PIXEL LC DENTAL LC MAGNA LC MAXIMUS

9. 3D prototype printing requires variation in
build size, industrial mass manufacture
does not.
Liquid Crystal Accumulo
Machines will be custom made with
multi-screen arrays of the size of the
part.
Liquid Crystal Accumulo has 15 x 2K
mobile screens.

10. Produces 60 in
3 hours
Delivered
resolution (after
scaling) < 40 µm
Per part $0.48
Produces 36 in
5 hours
Delivered
resolution (after
scaling) < 50 µm
Per part $1.20 0
Produces 42 in
1½ hours
Delivered
resolution (after
scaling) < 50 µm
Per part $0.90

11. Future-proof
The digital light device of choice for the world, with
billions made. Prices fall as resolution increases.
No mass consumer application for DLPs or lasers
and significantly more expensive to manufacture.
Resolution
2K 5.5” = 50 µm accuracy, 4K 5.5” = 31 µm.
Virtual reality < 10 µm. 8K now available and
higher resolutions in development.
Collimated back light delivering even light across
the entire screen, laser beams change shape with
position and DLPs have focal distortion.
Simplicity
Lasers require complex mirror/galvanometer
engineering, DLPs require lenses, in contrast
gravity holds resin on vat film over screen.
Reliability
Ink jets block, lasers need recalibrating, DLP
lamps last 1000 hours, screens can last for
80,000 hours if illuminated with the correct light
and low heat.
Print speed
Light intensity can be increased. Peel forces can
be moderated to deliver build times of 1cm per 10
minutes.

12. • Visible light curing binder and particles in slurry cured from LCD screen
• Optimised ceramic, polymer binder and printer
• Slurries are 50-60% ceramic volume loading
• Alumina
• Silica
• Silicon Carbide
• Zirconia
• Hydroxyapatite

13. Printed on Liquid Crystal
Ceramic Precision Printer.
2K screen <50 µm dimensional
tolerance.
>58% solid volume loading.
>68% green pack density.
Versatile ceramic for heat exchangers, thermal insulators, bioimplants, filters, electrical
insulators, abrasives etc
Case study on non-thermal plasma catalyst reactor (courtesy Hieta)
Long insulators with very narrow wall thickness and helical internal grooves to increase
internal surface area, extending time fluid is within tube, increasing conversion of
methane.

14. Made from fused silica.
Raw material price <$5 per kg
Core price <$10 per core
Liquid Crystal Accumulo Ceramics
16 x 4k 5.5” mobile phone screens
LC Accumulo Ceramics
Core Sample Height 86.5 mm
100 µm Layer Time 35s
Print Time 8 ½ hrs
Cores Per Print 28x16 = 448
Time Per Core 1.1mins

15. Green part- Inconel 718 Green part- 17-4PH SS
An Innovate UK funded project.
Process same as our ceramic 3D printing.
Highly loaded slurries of metal powder in
visible light curing binder illuminated by
LCD screens.
• Freedom of metal selection. Currently using 17-4 PH Stainless
Steel, Inconel 718 and Al6061.
• >50% volume loading.
• High green pack density.
• Very fine details.
• Enabling mass manufacture of detailed metal parts.

16. Photocentric LCD printing technology using visible
light curing enables deep penetration in particle rich
formulations.
Limited number of Ceramic Precision Printers available
to Research Institutions at discounted price of £5000.
Providing
• Excellent surface finish
• High resolution enabling fine details
• High green pack density
• Unparalleled cost proposition
• Open system for all materials
Our aims for ceramic 3D printing
Affordable Consistent Accurate

17. • We are interested to collaborate with any research institute or industrial partner to disrupt the way
metals and ceramics are manufactured. We are expanding our research team.
• Please contact us for further information hanifeh@photocentric.co.uk