Silicone additive manufacturing: new results published for the BIFASI project

Variable-geometry nozzle, viewed from below (BIFASI project)

Research conducted at the ICube laboratory as part of the BIFASI project (Intelligent Nozzle for Silicone Additive Manufacturing) has reached a new milestone with the recent publication of a scientific article in the journal Additive Manufacturing.

An active nozzle for adaptive printing

Led by the RDH team (Robotics, Data Science and Healthcare Technology), the BIFASI project focuses on the development of a variable-geometry nozzle capable of dynamically adjusting the shape and diameter of its outlet during the printing process.

This approach overcomes the limitations of conventional fixed-geometry nozzles by enabling both high precision and high deposition rates within a single process.

Experimental validation and key results

The published study demonstrates that this nozzle enables:

• continuous control of the extrusion diameter, allowing multi-scale deposition within a single part
• modulation of the silicone flow behavior, directly impacting deposition quality
• reduced printing times by combining fine features with larger infill regions

The experiments also highlight several challenges, particularly related to the viscoelastic behavior of silicone and the control strategies required to manage nozzle actuation.

Further details can be found in the article “An active nozzle with variable shape: Introduction and exploration of impact for silicone DIW” or on the BIFASI project website.

A collaborative project with application-driven objectives

The BIFASI project brings together academic and industrial partners, including ICBMS (through the 3d.FAB platform) and 3Deus Dynamics, combining complementary expertise in materials science, process engineering and industrialization. It also relies on collaboration between teams from different institutes, including INSA Strasbourg, University of Strasbourg and the CNRS.

Supported by SATT CONECTUS, the project highlights ICube’s ability to conduct research in close partnership with industry, with strong potential for technology transfer. This work contributes to exploring new application domains and fostering future collaborations around these technologies.

Towards industrial applications

This publication complements a body of work already protected by patents and strengthens the scientific and technological visibility of the approach.

These developments open up new opportunities for the production of functional silicone parts, with potential applications in soft robotics, medical devices and advanced manufacturing.

👉 Learn more about the BIFASI project