Sep 1, 2016 | By Andre
For every technology out there you will usually find a variety of methods that strive to get the job done with the best results. 3D printing is no different with the seemingly endless array of lasers, powders, plastics, resins and even paper that all aim to produce the perfect 3D print.
For the last few years, the desktop extruder based 3D printers have been battling to determine the best approach to accurate and low-cost printing. In one corner there is the time-tested FDM units commonly seen by companies like Makerbot. In the other corner is the delta 3D printer that is traditionally seen as being best suited for taller parts.
A new delta 3D printer set to launch via a crowdfunding campaign called Radik Delta 3D Printer is in the final stages of prototyping and the team behind it are arguing they have the best solution yet. They’ve done this by using sturdy components and a patent pending extruder technology that they argue is a step up from the rest.
Daniel Kurnianto, founder of DK Automations (the company behind the 3D printer) speaks of his experience with the technology that “along the way I've learned that 3D printers can be engineered cleverly while carefully putting the right design for manufacturing to be more reliable, cost effective, and easier to maintain. My biggest hope is that this knowledge and product helps others to print high-quality parts for their businesses.”
So what exactly is it that sets the Radik 3D printer apart from the rest? Aside from your standard bullet points such as it being constructed from all industrial-grade CNC machined parts, a simple modular design, rigid extrusion frame (allowing for higher speed 3D printing), the Radik also has a patent-pending Direct Delta Extruder technology designed for superior filament control.
The extruder technology is based on a direct extruder system that uses a remotely located motor so the print head is as light and free moving as one can hope for. And while direct drive extruder systems have been around for ages, they managed to take the best parts of the competing Bowden extruder for their own patent-pending system. Additionally, this is infact the first time a direct system is being used on a delta 3D printer.
And while the extruder system does intrigue from a spec perspective, the built-in dual filament system, open-source firmware, heated bed, self-levelling and fully enclosed casing ensures all of today’s expected bells and whistles are in place.
Of course, before the crowd-funding gets underway it is impossible to determine how far up the 3D printing ladder the Radik will go. I’ve seen promising 3D printers fade away into oblivion and while there are a few sample prints on display on the company’s website, a lot still needs to be proven before their efforts can be called a success. But with a crowd-sourcing effort just around the corner, we shall soon see if this delta 3D printer will live up to its hype or fade away with nothing but the softest whimper.
Radik 3D Technical Specs
Printer Dimensions
Printable area: round 180mm
Printable height: 150mm
Footprint: 490x450x600mm
Weight: 30 kg
3D Printing
Dual Nozzles
FFF Technology
Bed Leveling Assistance
Nozzle size: 0.4mm
Full Metal Nozzle
Default Resolution: 150 microns
Filament Diameter: 1.75mm
Max nozzle temp.: 300'C
Max bed temp.: 120’C
Material Filaments
ABS
PLA
NYLON
PVA
Software
Simplify3D
File: STL
Firmware Marlin
Connectivity: USB cable
USB Drive for stand alone printing
Posted in 3D Printing Application
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I'm amazed how some companies still think that mentioning a patent is a positive thing. In this modern world, lots of people appreciate openness, freedom etc.. and think that using broken patent system is for a-holes trying to extort other companies and customers. Anyways judging from the pictures it looks like those extruder motors are attached to upper portion of delta arms, thus still a moving mass. of course it helps a bit that they mostly move up/down and might have a straight saft transmitting torque to extruder. I think flexdrive has a flexible "shaft" but its motor isn't part of moving mass (but has some other difficulties). Also adding some neat carbon fibre looking stuff to a printer case does not make it any better.
kb wrote at 9/2/2016 10:04:10 PM:
The specs are pretty unappealing, with a smaller building area and a lower resolution than most Reprap projects
Pete wrote at 9/2/2016 2:36:35 AM:
That is not the 1st time a direct drive has been used on a delta. Commercially there are even knock off Chinese direct feed Delta's. Definitely not, in the maker fit community. The Berry Bot is just one of the example of a direct feed Delta printer. I agree with the above comment. They maybe the 1st to patent a particular peice of direct feed hardware. Far from the frist to implement it.
Annoyed wrote at 9/1/2016 8:30:42 PM:
The comment approval system sucks.
GearheadRed wrote at 9/1/2016 8:30:06 PM:
Look up the Flex3Drive, its been around for a few years now and performs the same direct drive extruder with remote motor setup and has been installed on both delta and cartesian machines. They may be able to patent their specific method to accomplish this but they likely wont be able to patent the concept as a whole since there is plenty of prior art.
GearheadRed wrote at 9/1/2016 7:32:14 PM:
Look at the Flex3Drive too, been around for a few years using a direct drive extruder with a remote motor running the extruder. This has been mounted on deltas and Cartesian machines alike. They may be able to patent their specific version of the method but prior art is plenty strong to prevent patenting the concept.
Dean Du Bois wrote at 9/1/2016 3:42:17 PM:
Direct drive (not Bowden). Looks like the filament feed drives are mounted in the arms (should be much lower inertia in the XY plane.
So you think your Brad Pitt. wrote at 9/1/2016 2:10:54 PM:
A bowden driven head still has lots of hysteresis and pretty sure this has been tried in the Open Source community, hence prior art.
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