Jan 16, 2018 | By Tess
Scandinavian window and door manufacturer NorDan AB will soon be offering its clients products made with the help of additive manufacturing. The Sweden-based company even commissioned a custom 3D printer which could meet its large-scale manufacturing needs.
The 3D printer in question, the “BLB 3D Custom Printer,” was made in collaboration with BLB Industries, a Värnamo-based company that specializes in producing bespoke manufacturing systems and machines for its clients. The idea behind the printer was to create a large-scale additive manufacturing system which could turn out full-size windows and doors for NorDan AB.
The massive 3D printer, which is expected to be ready in Spring of this year, is reportedly capable of 3D printing products with a size of up to 2.5 m x 1.5 m x 1.5 m. Of course, larger parts could be produced but they would require post-printing assembly.
Still, with a printing scale of that size, you could make a pretty large window frame.
The 3D printer is equipped with two extruders with different nozzle sizes (0.6 to 2 mm and 2 to 8 mm), which are built to process plastic granules in a variety of polymer and biocomposite materials. The latter category includes materials made from agricultural byproducts, including wood, cork, straw, and hemp. NorDan says it is eager to capitalize on these more sustainable manufacturing materials.
Other specifications for the custom 3D printer include a deposition rate of 14 kg of plastic per hour, overall dimensions of 2.4 x 2.7 x 4 m, and a customized print surface which was designed for optimal adhesion with any polymer or biocomposite material that is being printed.
Once the BLB 3D Custom Printer is in operation at NorDan’s facility in Bor, the company says it plans to use it to produce prototypes and a number of commercial end-products. The company says that it has already tested the 3D printer with door manufacturing and has seen promising results.
Ultimately, Nordan AB is aiming to offer its clients the most cutting-edge technologies for window and door production and design. Known for its emphasis on sustainability, NorDan’s leap into additive manufacturing is not a complete surprise, and we are excited to see what new and innovative door and window designs the company realizes with the help of its custom 3D printer.
BLB Industries, for its part, specializes in the production of customized FDM-style 3D printers. On its website it says it can build printers with a build volume of up to 5 x 5 x 5 m and offers a one-year warranty for its bespoke systems.
Posted in 3D Printer
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