Designfax weekly eMagazine

Subscribe Today!

Archives

View Archives

Partners

Manufacturing Center
Product Spotlight

Modern Applications News
Metalworking Ideas For
Today's Job Shops

Tooling and Production
Strategies for large
metalworking plants

Stratasys goes big and reshapes 3D printing

Stratasys recently unveiled two new pieces of game-changing additive manufacturing technology: the Infinite-Build 3D Demonstrator (build big, super-long parts) and the Robotic Composite 3D Demonstrator (the robotic printhead can rotate all around a part). If you're going to the giant IMTS show in Chicago this September, you will have the opportunity to check out these incredible systems firsthand. If not, well, we'll give you an inside look here. [Note: See video at end of this article to watch these systems in action.]

Turning 3D printing on its side

The Stratasys Infinite-Build 3D Demonstrator for producing large tools and production parts is designed for accuracy, repeatability, and speed for custom OEM production and on-demand aftermarket disruption.

 

 

 

 

The Infinite-Build 3D Demonstrator is designed to address the demands of aerospace, automotive, and other industries for large, lightweight thermoplastic parts with repeatable mechanical properties. It features a revolutionary approach to fused deposition modeling (FDM) extrusion that increases throughput and repeatability. The really cool thing here is that the system turns the traditional 3D-printer concept on its side to print on a vertical plane for practically unlimited part size in the build direction (imagine a conveyor belt with a robotic printhead at one end).

Aerospace giant Boeing played an influential role in defining the requirements and specifications for the demonstrator. Boeing is currently using the system to explore the production of low-volume, lightweight parts.

Stratasys Infinite-Build 3D Demonstrator full aircraft panel part.

 

 

"We are always looking for ways to reduce the cost and weight of aircraft structures, or reduce the time it takes to prototype and test new tools and products, says Darryl Davis, President, Boeing Phantom Works. "The Stratasys Infinite-Build 3D Demonstrator enables products to be made at a much larger and potentially unlimited length, offering us a breakthrough tool to add to our robust additive manufacturing processes."

Ford Motor Company is also delving into innovative automotive manufacturing applications for the system, including automotive-grade 3D-printed materials that were not previously possible due to limited size.

"Our vision at Ford is to make high-speed, high-quality printing of automotive-grade parts a reality," says Mike Whitens, director, Vehicle Enterprise Sciences, Ford Research & Advanced Engineering.

Turning 3D printing upside down -- and all the way around

The Stratasys Robotic Composite 3D Demonstrator provides a hybrid approach for automated composite part production and breaks the print-by-layer mindset.

 

 

 

 

The Robotic Composite 3D Demonstrator is a "round-the-world" robotic printhead system designed to stand the traditional notion of 3D printing of composite parts on its head. This system combines advanced extrusion technologies from Stratasys with Siemens' Motion Control hardware and PLM software. It uses a unique 8-axis motion system that enables precise, directional material placement for strength while also reducing the need for speed-hindering support strategies. It can not only print a part, but print around and on a part. It's a demonstrator that redefines how future lightweight parts can be built and provides a glimpse into how this technology could be used to accelerate the production of parts made from a wide variety of materials.

Source: Stratasys

Published September 2016

Rate this article