By Melissa Donovan
Three-dimensional (3D) printing of plastic parts and prototypes is being achieved in a number of industries. Research firm Markets and Markets published its 3D Printing Plastics Market report in January 2024. It states that automotive, healthcare, aerospace, and defense industries are driving the growth of the 3D printing plastics market. The technology provides ease of customized product development.
The April issue of Industrial Print magazine dives into this topic further, and there is also a webinar available online. Here, we share vendors offering 3D printers for plastic.
ARBURGadditive
ARBURGadditive offers a range of products for industrial additive manufacturing (AM) based on granules, filaments, and liquid silicone. ARBURG Plastic Freeforming (APF) with the freeformer printer can process a range of certified original plastic granules, including fiber-reinforced and multi-material combinations. This enables users to open up additional areas of application for industrial AM, for example in aerospace. One advantage is that freeformers can be connected to an ARBURG host computer system ALS and the arburgXworld customer portal. The ProcessLog application offers complete traceability of each individual component, a feature that ARBURG also offers in injection moulding.
The new freeformer 750-3X, a high-temperature version, is systematically designed to meet future requirements. For example, it processes original Ultem 9085 for use in aerospace and also produces larger components such as flexible two-component shoe soles or small series in a single work cycle. Thanks to the APF process, specific component areas can be individually reinforced and others designed to be soft—either through a multi-material combination, e.g. of hard PP and soft TPE, or by adjusting the filling density.
The compact 3D printers in the TiQ series with a CNC control system process filaments using the fused filament fabrication method. The TiQ 2 is particularly economical and also ideal as an entry-level AM solution thanks to its open material system. The new TiQ 5 pro features integrated material drying and active build chamber temperature control.
EOS
Selective laser sintering (SLS) uses plastic polymers in powder form that are fused using a precise laser. The result is robust functional parts with high design freedom, as no support structures are required.
With a small footprint and build volume, the FORMIGA P 110 Series stands out as a compact and efficient solution for industrial polymer 3D printing. It not only offers excellent part quality but also consumes minimal floor space. This makes it an ideal choice for businesses seeking space-efficient 3D printing technology to achieve repeatable results across machines.
The FORMIGA P 110 FDR’s fine laser beam takes precision to new heights, opening the door to extremely stable, filigree parts with an ultra-smooth surface finish across different materials and applications.
On the opposite end of the spectrum is the EOS P 770, offering 3D printing of large parts and with high throughput. Users benefit from reduced build time and cost per part due to optimized temperature management, enhanced layering speed, and powerful lasers.
The energy input is effectively homogenized by the EOSAME feature, resulting in consistent mechanical properties and dimensional accuracy across the entire build volume. Notably, the lasers’ overlapping zones make for a seamless production without any discernible edges.
Essentium, a Nexa 3D Company
3D printers from Essentium, a Nexa3D company, offer precise temperature control, compatibility with a range of materials, and advanced extrusion technology that sets printers apart, delivering reliable and accurate results.
Essentium’s High Speed Extrusion 3D printing platforms are designed to deliver not only speed but also accuracy, ensuring efficient and reliable production to range of materials. High Speed Extrusion technology transforms traditional manufacturing, giving customers an industrial-scale AM solution that allows them to generate production floor-ready parts at scale quickly and cost effectively.
HP Inc.
HP’s new Jet Fusion 5600 Series is the latest upgrade to the HP 5200 Series introduced back in May 2019. Through improvements in hardware and firmware, this iteration of HP’s Jet Fusion technology is breaking through to new customers across industries for leading applications, made possible by the system’s high output with minimal energy consumption, which also results in a lower carbon footprint for parts compared to traditional manufacturing methods.
What differentiates HP’s Jet Fusion 5600 Series from other solutions is in its ability to give end users greater control over the entire 3D printing process. With its unique process development capabilities, manufacturers now have a greater sense of process flexibility and predictability over a fleet of printers that in turn promote production scalability while enabling application development through data and KPI analytics.
Given the material properties of polyamide, HP’s Multi Jet Fusion system is ideal for production, thanks to high process printing speeds, amazing surface finish, high dimensional accuracy, and great potential for scalability, which is proven across the healthcare, consumer, automotive, and industrial sectors to date.
Mimaki USA, Inc.
Mimaki full-color 3DUJ series 3D models are capable of reproducing over ten million colors. Due to their inkjetting method of printing, the 3DUJ Series can print up to eight different materials at once including colors (CMYK and White) as well as clear, pure clear, and water-soluble support material.
The 3DUJ-553 model is the world’s first photorealistic full-color 3D printer capable of producing more than ten million unique colors on a 20x20x12-inch build area. The 3DUJ-2207 model is an affordable solution for entry into the full-color 3D printing market using the same printing technology and build materials on an 8x8x3-inch build area.
Future Plans
Plastic-based 3D printing is growing as new technologies enter the market.
Apr2024, Industrial Print Magazine