Freeformer

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Freeformer in action
Process illustration of Arburg plastic freeforming (AKF)
Arburg plastic freeforming process (AKF)

The Freeformer is a machine for the industrial production of plastic components based on CAD data. The underlying technology has similarities with injection molding and can be assigned to additive manufacturing or 3D printing .

Procedure

In the Freeformer, as in injection molding, standard plastic granulate is first melted in a plasticizing cylinder. In contrast to injection molding, however, molds and tools ( machine tools ) are no longer used. Instead, a nozzle closure with piezo technology , which opens and closes up to a hundred times per second, generates tiny plastic droplets (see Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), in which plastic strands are heated and extruded). The Freeformer builds the components layer by layer from the droplets.

The actual “free-forming” of parts is made possible by a component carrier that is movable in five axes. Complex geometries and undercuts can be created with the Freeformer without, as with some other 3D printing technologies - e.g. B. in stereolithography - to need support body for overhanging areas. If the machine is equipped with a second discharge unit, two-component parts, e.g. B. hard-soft compounds or different colors can be produced.

development

The Freeformer was presented for the first time in 2013 at the international plastics trade fair K in Düsseldorf, and shortly afterwards at the Euromold trade fair in Frankfurt by the German company Arburg . The company itself describes the patented process as Arburg plastic free-forming (AKF). According to its own information, Arburg had already started development in 2004. In 2007, the collaboration with the Technical University of Munich followed with regard to drop generation. From 2010 prototypes were built and tested. The German company Festo is an application partner. Numerous publications in international specialist media and in the national German press rate the Freeformer and the AKF as a new approach to the technology of 3D printing. In July 2014, the company received the Red Dot Design Award for the machine . At the "formnext", an international trade fair for additive manufacturing technologies / 3D printing as well as tool and mold making, the company presented a larger version of the Freeformer in November 2018. This can process three components in the AKF process and enables the industrial additive manufacturing of complex functional components in a resilient hard-soft combination with a support structure.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ to "Kunststoffe 2014, PDF
  2. ^ "Arburg: Public magnet Freeformer", in: K-Aktuell, November 7, 2013
  3. ↑ "With the Freeformer Arburg opens up new avenues for additive component manufacturing", in: Gupta-Verlag Nachrichten, November 28, 2013 [1]
  4. ↑ see: freepatentsonline.com, "Device for manufacturing a three-dimensional object" [2]
  5. ↑ see: http : //www.arburg- Spritzgiessmaschine.de/generative-industrie.htm
  6. ↑ see: "Chemistry resistant microdroplet generator", in: Technical University of Munich, 3D Printing, Rapid Technologies Archived copy ( memento of the original from April 2, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.mimed.mw.tum.de
  7. ^ "Plastic parts production - Festo receives Arburg Energy Efficiency Award 2014", in: Sustainable Production, March 20, 2014 [3]
  8. ↑ z. B. Sam Anson "Nobody saw that coming", in: Medicalplasticnews, October 17, 2013 [4] ; "Plastic droplets generate parts: Technology benefits from injection molding know-how - Arburg now also produces 3D printers", in: Industrieanzeiger, October 23, 2013 Archived copy ( Memento of the original from April 2, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was used automatically and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. ; "Dr. Eric Klemp on the future of additive manufacturing processes", in: 3druck.com, January 7, 2014 [5] ; James Snodgrass , "Project makes prototypes with 3D printed molds", in: European Plastic News, April 8, 2014 [6] ; "Germany will be a 3D printing country", in: Wirtschaftswoche, December 5, 2013 [7] @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.industrieanzeiger.de
  9. ^ "Arburg: Freeformer wins Red Dot Award", in: K-Zeitung online, July 14, 2014 [8]
  10. ↑ Simone Käfer: Freeformer for larger components and with options for automation. In: MaschinenMarkt. October 1, 2018, accessed May 14, 2019 .