The Photopolymer Additive Manufacturing Alliance (PAMA)’s monthly research talk series will be coming to you live on Zoom next week! Mike Idacavage (Radical Curing, LLC) will present his talk, “UV Curable Photopolymer Additive Manufacturing (PAM) – Basics+” on Monday, July 13 at 2:00-3:00PM ET.

Register for a zoom link at https://pama3d.org/PAM-JAM.

Abstract: This seminar introduces the photopolymerization chemistry at the heart of Photopolymer Additive Manufacturing (PAM) and explores what makes this technology the growing success that it is. We’ll begin with an overview of free radical photopolymerizations– specifically acrylate and methacrylate systems, which dominate the field. Beyond reaction mechanisms, real-world PAM performance depends heavily on formulation. We’ll cover the key categories of raw materials and how they’re combined to hit specific performance targets. A brief look at hybrid systems will also be included. In addition to the basic chemistry, We will compare the major vat-based platforms — SLA, DLP, and LCD-DLP — examining the advantages and disadvantages of each. The session closes with UV Inkjet, a rapidly expanding segment of PAM that rounds out the current technology landscape.

Whether you’re new to photopolymer additive manufacturing or looking to deepen your understanding of how chemistry and hardware intersect, this seminar offers a practical, structured foundation.