With its promise of compressing the time for getting a real part from a CAD drawing from weeks to hours, Additive Manufacturing has proliferated with a variety of technologies being now offered and dozens of companies claiming to offer industrial 3D printers.
However, caveat emptor – relatively few of the machines on the market today are true industrial 3D printers – here’s why: an industrial 3D printer is a type of 3D printing machine that is specifically designed for use in a manufacturing or production environment. These printers are typically larger and more robust than consumer-grade desktop 3D printers, and are built to handle higher production volumes and larger print sizes. Some of the key features that differentiate an industrial 3D printer from a consumer-grade printer include:
Size and build volume
Industrial 3D printers are often larger than consumer-grade printers, with build volumes that can accommodate larger objects or production runs.
Material capabilities
Industrial 3D printers are capable of printing with a wider range of materials, including engineering-grade plastics, metals, and composites. The same features that make these materials meet stringent application requirements (temperature resistance, durability) can also make them difficult to process – for instance, highly abrasive composite materials can quickly wear down a consumer-grade printer nozzle.
Precision and dimensional accuracy
Industrial 3D printers are designed to produce high-quality prints with a high level of precision and dimensional accuracy, making them suitable for use in manufacturing applications.
Speed
Industrial 3D printers are generally faster than consumer-grade printers, allowing for higher production volumes and shorter lead times.
Durability and reliability
Industrial 3D printers are built to withstand the rigors of a production environment and are designed for long-term use.
Repeatability and reproducibility
Industrial 3D printers can deliver repeatable and reproducible performance, time after time.
Ease of use
Many industrial 3D printers include advanced features and controls to make them easy to use and maintain, even in a high-volume production setting.
Traceabilty
Industrial 3D printers allow the production of end-use parts while logging process parameters and raw materials, enabling quality monitoring via traceability along the production process.
The 3DGENCE INDUSTRY™ F421 and F350 production systems
Have been specifically designed for industrial manufacturing and meet all of the above requirements, featuring:
- Large, generous build volumes featuring actively heated chamber technology.
- Capable of processing engineering-grade, advanced materials and composites – unlocked, open systems.
- Very fast print speeds of up to 400 mm/s and idle travel speeds up to 1000 mm/s.
- Designed and engineered for long service life.
- Excellent part dimensional accuracy.
- Modular printhead system and human-machine interface and slicing software.
- Advanced air filtration system for removing micro-plastics and potentially harmful outgassing chemicals.
- Full process traceability when integrated with 3DGENCE Connect™ suite.
