Mar. 23, 2015 | By Alec
Every 3D printing convention reveals something new and interesting to the public, and Rapidpro 2015, which was held from 3 to 5 March in Veldhoven, the Netherlands, was no exception. But the absolute star of this fun event surely was the 3D Robot Printing stand manned by Jasper Menger. Here, he debuted his robot-arm 3D printer. Unlike your typical XYZ printing setup, this inspiring robot arm is capable of 3D printing in every direction.
The 28-year-old entrepreneur Jasper Menger is the mastermind behind this interesting 3D printing setup and has recently founded new 3D printing startup 3D Robot Printing to further explore his robot’s potential. So far the response, both from industrial giants and from the general public, has been overwhelming. A constant stream of interested onlookers passed his stand at the Rapidpro manufacturing convention in Veldhoven, who watched in awe as the 3D printer created a gigantic plastic object with a single fluid movement (video below).
As Jasper explained at the convention, his robotic 3D printer simply started out as a hobby project to combine a 3D printer with the robotic arm he was working with at his job at Roland Robotics. After his initial successes, Jasper is now focusing completely on his new startup as he believes there’s a very bright future ahead for his Robot 3D Printer. The software and robotic movement patterns are, he argues, perfect for realizing a consistent 3D printing quality as a robot is simply smarter than a 3D printer and capable of more effective movement.
Jasper has further incorporated a remarkable extrusion technique that relies on inexpensive granulate (PP and glass fiber), rather than filament. Heating it to 220 degrees Celsius, granulate can be directly extruded through a 3 mm nozzle at a consistent pace – crucial when working with quickly cooling materials. The robot’s software therefore speeds up or slows down 3D printing depending on the scope of the project it’s working on. "The options for robots are only growing. They are easily programmable for tool changes, enabling you to incorporate various tasks into a single printing project. It ensures that production can continue 24/7," Jasper explains.
Some of the giant objects that have already been 3D printed with this robot arm.
But perhaps most impressive is the massive size this 3D printer is capable of producing. Thanks to the robot’s flexible arm system, it is currently capable of 3D printing objects with a maximum size of 8 x 3 x 2 meters. "We can configure complete systems specifically aimed at the customer, with differing installations with printing capacities from 1 x 1 x1 meters up to 8 x 3 x 2 meters and everything in between. Alternatively, we print on demand. Don’t have a drawing of what you’re looking for? Not a problem, we can cover all necessary steps."
At this size, the minimum layer size is just 1 milimeter, which is acceptable for large 3D prints. The quality is reportedly almost comparable to that of injection-molded fiberglass/PP products, though comparison are not what Jasper is focussing on. "This technology is perfect for making injection mold prototypes before the actual injections take place," he says. Thanks to its huge reach, Jasper is even looking into making prototype molds for boats and other large objects.
The young and ambitious start-up, based in Hoorn, has already opened for business to produce prototypes or large numbers of small parts for various businesses. "The great thing about our setup is that we can produce carbon fiber prototypes at a moment’s notice," Jasper says. "Customers love to experience and touch it themselves; it's a far better option than simply seeing a CAD model on your screen."
A table base.
However, the ambitions of 3D Robot Printing don’t end there, but aim to incorporate various 3D printable materials to offer maximal services. "I’m from an entrepreneurial family, and was always told to do something extra or special," he says. "That’s our approach to the future. We are aiming to develop affordable metal 3D printing based on the same robotic concept. I’m working on a method to do this on very large and much cheaper scale than the current market does. This should make 3D printing far more attractive – even to the private consumer." While metal printing is in a league of its own, one thing is certain. This 3D printing robot is going places.
Posted in 3D Printers
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That robot is engineered to do much more...
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