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Aug 9, 2016 | By Benedict

Ceramic 3D printing specialist Deltabots has released the latest 3D printer in its line of 3D PotterBot machines. The $7,800 3D PotterBot V4.5 uses DC servo motors and features a large build envelope and high-volume 5,500 ml extruder.

It's a sad fact that ceramic 3D printers are less romantic than potter’s wheels. Think about it: did you ever see Patrick Swayze hold Demi Moore as she got to grips with some CAD software? No. Such 3D printers are, however, becoming more and more effective as manufacturing tools. Using ceramic 3D printers, designers can now create highly complex digital designs and turn them into pottery with ease. Moreover, digital potters can even blend the old-school and new-school techniques by manually shaping or deforming their ceramic creations as they are 3D printed.

One of the most prominent manufacturers of ceramic 3D printers is Deltabots, the company behind the PotterBot line of ceramic 3D printers. The Florida-based business has just announced its latest machine, the PotterBot V4.5, a quiet yet imposing machine which can print vessels up to 36" (914mm) tall and extrude 22 pounds of clay in one go. The 3D printer uses a 5,500 ml extruder, which is controlled by DC servo motors operating on a closed-loop system. This massive extruder uses direct nozzle extrusion, meaning users do not need to clean hoses or deal with complicated delivery systems or air compressors.

Deltabots’ new ceramic 3D printer, which can extrude real clay straight from the bag, uses U.S.-made Acme lead screws and components from IGUS, a German company specializing in high-quality bearings, linear guides, and cable carriers. Users have the option of a number of nozzle diameters, all the way up to 16 mm, which gives them near-unlimited design possibilities in terms of both size and detail. The 3D printer uses a unique system with a traveling X & Y axis and stationary Z-axis extruder. The X axis, supported by an innovative mechanism at the end of each rail, is able to travel freely on top of any flat surface on which it is positioned.

The PotterBot V4.5 ceramic 3D printer is in some ways similar to a CNC mill, as it uses near-silent DC servo motors which can purportedly provide precise and stable motion. The company comments that these motors should provide “extreme longevity” in both professional and academic settings. The PotterBot V4.5 uses the same Cartesian system, direct-extrusion-from-stationary-extruder design as the first PotterBot ceramic 3D printer, but implements a much larger build volume without needing a large box structure or sliding bed. The 3D printer uses a top-of-the-range ARM Cortex-M3 processor for high performance and speed, while its compact and portable design means the 3D printer can be shipped overseas with ease.

The large-capacity 5,500 ml extruder of the 3D printer can hold around 24 lb of clay, and has been designed for large-scale vessels or projects that need continuous extrusion without topping up of materials. The company recommends the device as a suitable tool for production environments, with down-time kept to a minimum thanks to the high-performance extruder, which is made from CNC parts and Acme screws. The extruder can be driven with any standard 3D printer controller that produces pulse, step, and direction signals. Other useful features of the printer include a touch-screen Control Center and direct USB servo connection.

PotterBot V4.5 3D printer specifications:

• Printer envelope: 26 x 18 x 22 inches (X,Y,Z)
• Printer size: 57 x 31 x 37 inches (L,W,H)
• Printer height with extruder: 94 inches
• Overall empty weight: 15 lbs
• 5500 ml extruder
• 3.75-inch diameter poly-carbonate/carbon reinforced tube and anodized aluminum nozzles
• DC servo motor with integrated drivers
• Power requirements: 75V and 24V, input: 110/220 Volts, 60/50 Hertz
• Average printer speed: 55 mm/s
• Included nozzles: 5, 6.4, 8.3, and 10 (Additional nozzles custom-built upon request)

 

 

Posted in 3D Printer

 

 

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