The Glass Competence Center at TU Darmstadt investigated how flexible structures for the built environment can be developed from quartz glass fibres using 3D printing. The basis for this is the laser-based welding process developed at the Laser Zentrum Hannover, which enables the additive processing of the fibres. The process also enables 3D printing on substrate plates, which opens up a wide range of opportunities. Among other things, it can be used to produce pure glass point holders.
The button-shaped point holder was developed in an iterative process, taking into account the requirements for the structural component and the 3D printing process parameters. As a basis, a shape optimisation and design study was carried out by Verrotec GmbH and Dipl.-Ing. Hölscher GmbH. The exhibit ‘AM Glass point fixing’ shows the result of this process. It illustrates how laminated glass with glass point fixings can be attached to a possible substructure.
