Sep 12, 2016 | By Benedict
The Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and Strangpresse, LLC have entered into a cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) to evaluate the Strangpresse Big Area Additive Manufacturing (BAAM) extruder and conduct material testing for long fiber reinforced materials.
Additive manufacturing extrusion equipment from Strangpresse
ORNL, the Department of Energy’s (DOE) massive research base in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, is involved with all aspects of 3D printing. Today, the lab announced its latest additive manufacturing materials endeavor—a joint project with Strangpresse, a plastic extrusion specialist based in Youngstown, Ohio. The two parties are planning to conduct material testing for long fiber reinforced materials using a new Strangpresse extruder developed for the Big Area Additive Manufacturing (BAAM) 3D printer, a machine that ORNL is well familiar with.
As one of the largest 3D printing systems in the world, Cincinnati Incorporated’s BAAM is capable of producing massive 3D printed objects—a 3D printed car, for example. Strangpresse, a startup formed in 2014, recognized BAAM’s potential to 3D print massive objects, but decided that its flow rate could be improved with a new extruder. Accordingly, the company developed a new extrusion system capable of processing more than 50 kilos/hr, and has now got ORNL on board to validate the flow rate, system response time, and linearity of flow on the new system, as well as to identify processing parameters, make test articles, and qualify material properties with a specific focus on long fiber reinforced polymers.
ORNL's 3D printed Shelby Cobra, printed with the BAAM 3D printer
The joint project to be carried out under the terms of the CRADA will be divided into two key phases. Phase one will mostly concern testing the new Strangpresse BAAM extruder, starting with the coordination of system requirements between Strangpresse and ORNL. ORNL will then proceed to integrate the Strangpresse extruder into a testing system in order to fully characterize it and to validate its physical, electrical, and computational capabilities.
Phase two of the project will introduce evaluative procedures for the new 3D printing extrusion system, with ORNL selecting three long fiber reinforced thermoplastics with which to evaluate the system. Various test objects will then be 3D printed with the new extruder, with ORNL measuring the material properties of such articles. The lab will finally create a finished demonstration article, as well as a CRADA final report that will be submitted to the DOE.
Prior to the new CRADA, Strangpresse had previously worked with ORNL when it became the first company to license an ORNL suit of patents associated with large scale additive manufacturing on a non-exclusive basis. The ORNL continues to work with Strangpresse on the development of additive manufacturing technologies which make uses of these patents.
A BAAM 3D printing system. Soon to be improved?
“We are very excited to be teaming up with ORNL again,” said Strangpresse CEO Chuck George. “The processing of long fiber reinforced polymers is a game changer for Additive Manufacturing, the Industry will no longer be comparing the strength of the part as it relates to the base thermoplastic polymer, but rather a factor related to the fiber strength.”
Strangpresse has also been in contact with Lockheed Martin Space Systems regarding the provision of an advanced extruder for use in the defense giant’s Multi-Robotic Additive Cluster Research and Development initiative.
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50 kg per hour...better not load the wrong model, costly mistake.