The combination of various technologies has been investigated for a long time to find new solutions to different industrial and artistic tasks.
Some years ago the engineer and founder of the 3D printing company Robot Printing the Dutchman Jasper Menger presented his research on the union of two technologies that changed many automation concepts.
Menger put into practice what he learned in the field of automation and created a 3D printer that is connected to a Stäubli robotic arm, a project that took two years of research was configured to be able to perform 3D printing in all directions, which makes the difference with a traditional XYZ printing system, with a flexible robotic arm system capable of 3D printing with a maximum size of 8 x 3 x 2 meters.
This solution brought the technology to a level where it could reliably print very large objects with greater reliability.
It also uses superior extrusion technology, which is based on materials like (PP and glass fibers) instead of filaments. When heated to 220 degrees Celsius, the granules can be extruded directly through a 3mm die at a constant speed, which is essential for the use of quench materials. Thus, the robot software will speed up or slow down 3D printing according to the scope of the project.
The minimum layer volume is only 1mm, which is favorable for large-scale 3D printing. Its quality is reportedly nearly comparable to injection molded PP / fiberglass products.
Jasper comments, “that the robot motion modes and the software are well suited to achieve consistent 3D print quality, because robots are smarter than 3D printers and can perform more effective movements.”
“This technology is perfect for prototyping injection molds before injections are made.”
Currently the choice of robots is only increasing. They are easy to program for tool replacement, allowing you to combine multiple tasks in one printing project. Ensuring constant productivity during the week.
