| The most common material used in the 3D printing industry is thermoplastics, but people tend to confuse thermoplastic thermosets. Thermosets are polymers or resins that, once cured, remain solid, unlike thermoplastics, which can melt again. So far, thermosets are generally not 3D-printable, at least not large-scale, but everything will happen for the first time. Magnum Venus Products (MVP) in collaboration with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) this week at ORNL The first commercial medium/large thermoset 3D printer was installed in the demo facility.  This is a big deal for the 3D printing industry because it requires 3D printing methods for large molds and structures that will remain in industrial conditions. Bob Vanderhoff, president and chief executive officer of Magnum Venus Products, said: 'Thanks to this innovation, R&D managers will be able to prototype faster and bring products to market faster. The purchasing department will also shorten the delivery of key dies. Delivery time - to achieve rapid deployment. This is achieved through ORNL slicing software, which allows integration of multivariate printing process parameters. The new Thermobot 3D printer is a state-of-the-art gantry system that is specifically tailored to the application and developed for the growth of 3D printing, highly customized market requirements and the need for advanced manufacturing automation. Vlastimil Kunc, Head of Polymer Materials Development at ORNL, stated: 'The ability to print thermoset materials on a large scale opens up new possibilities for the performance and integrity of printed structures.' The thermoset 3D printer has a roll-in/out-to-bed configuration that greatly increases the productivity of 3D printing. This configuration allows the 3D printer to perform both pre- and post-processing operations on an extra print bed outside the printer. Benefits include the ability to quickly prototype and quickly Build molds and use new materials for experimentation. Specifications described by the MVP include: Coordinated control of multi-axis print heads and other printing process parameters Building volume: 16'x 8'x 42'; 50' printing per second (depending on the material used); Deposition rate ≥10 lbs./hr; Resolution can be ≤ 6mm and greater resolution; Build a 1,000 pound capacity platform; Repeatability = ±0.005'; Large size, easily scalable to multiple sizes. Again, the difference between thermosetting plastics and thermoplastics is that once the thermosetting plastic is cured, it can be molded. Even thermoplastics with high heat resistance can eventually melt to their original state, which makes them very Suitable for recycling, but for extremely high temperature applications, such as pouring moulds for molten materials, it is not very good. In any case, thermosets not only remain stable but also maintain their shape. ORNL and Magnum Venus Products The introduction of medium/large thermosetting 3D printers means that the 3D printing industry will usher in new business opportunities. Source: 3D Tiger |
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