Freeformer: A presentation in a special setting
07.11.2016
Arburg SAS is to present the Freeformer to customers and interested parties in France at three different events in autumn 2015.
Arburg SAS is to present the Freeformer to customers and interested parties in France at three different events in autumn 2015.
• Arburg France presents the additive manufacturing system
• Events at Peugeot and Smart and attendance at the 3D Print trade fair in Lyon
• Industrial process for the additive manufacturing of parts
This supports the French sales start for the innovative system for industrial manufacture of fully functional plastic parts from standard granulate which was launched in spring of this year. The Peugeot and Smart car manufacturing facilities will provide the unusual backdrop for both events. In addition, the Freeformer will also be presented at the 3D Print trade fair in Lyon.
At the Peugeot plant in Poissy on 22 September and at Smart in Hambach on 1 October, guests will have the opportunity to see the Freeformer at work in a presentation following a reception. Presentations and discussions are also planned on the technology and performance of the system, as well as the current and future capabilities of Arburg Plastic Freeforming (AKF). In addition, on 15 and 16 September, visitors to the 3D Print in Lyon will be able to find out in detail about the AKF process and the possibilities offered by the Freeformer at Stand A18/B11 in Forum 5 & 6 of the "Cité Internationale".
Freeformer and AKF: the solution for industrial additive manufacturing
The Freeformer is designed for industrial additive manufacturing and can achieve far more than a simple
3D printer. Compared to other additive manufacturing processes, a significant advantage here is that it is possible to process qualified, conventional plastic granulates, which are more cost-effective.
With Arburg Plastic Freeforming (AKF), the qualified standard granulate is initially melted in a plasticising cylinder in a process similar to injection moulding. A stationary discharge unit with a special nozzle applies tiny plastic droplets layer-by-layer onto a part carrier using high-frequency piezo technology at a specified duty cycle of 60 to 200 Hertz. Depending on the nozzle used, the diameter of the droplets generated under pressure is between 0.2 and 0.3 millimetres.
The moving part carrier is positioned so that each drop falls onto a precisely predetermined point. During cooling, the tiny droplets automatically fuse together. The desired three-dimensional component is thus created layer by layer. The construction chamber of the Freeformer has room for parts with maximum dimensions of 190 x 135 x 250 millimetres.
Freeformer additively processes two components
During the customer events at Peugeot and Smart and at the 3D Print trade fair, Arburg will demonstrate how fully functional plastic parts can be additively manufactured on the basis of 3D CAD data using qualified standard granulate without requiring a mould. For this purpose, the Freeformer is equipped with a movable three-axis part carrier and two stationary discharge units.
The second discharge unit can be used for an additional component in order, for example, to produce a part in different colours, with special tactile qualities, or as a hard/soft combination. As an alternative, it can be used to build up structures from a water-soluble support material. This makes it possible to achieve unusual or very complex part geometries.
Environmentally and user friendly
One great advantage of working with the Freeformer is that no dust or emissions are produced and no additional infrastructure is therefore necessary. No extraction units or cooling water are required. The system is therefore also perfectly suitable for use in an office or laboratory environment.
The 3D CAD data for the parts being manufactured (STL files) is prepared offline on a PC. Special software generates the necessary production data through slicing. Once the Freeformer controller has received this data, which determines the travel strokes, for example, production can begin.
Award-winning industrial product
Last year, the Freeformer received the internationally renowned Red Dot Award for outstanding industrial design. It thus takes pride of place next to products from top brands such as Apple, Audi and Adidas. This pioneering system is not only suitable for the additive manufacturing of one-off parts and small batches. Mass-produced parts can also be customised in conjunction with injection moulding and Industry 4.0 technologies.