Rapid + TCT (21-23 April) will feature two of Arburg’s Freeformer machines which use Arburg Plastic Freeforming (APF) to process original plastic granules in the production of complex functional parts.
Arburg
Arburg showcasing freeforming capability at Rapid + TCT 2020
The 200-3X and 300-3X Freeformer machines enable Arburg to cover a broad spectrum in the industrial additive manufacturing of functional parts from original materials.
The first of these, a Freeformer 200-3X with two discharge units, will be producing an implant for use in medical technology. The second, a Freeformer 300-3X with three discharge units, will showcase an application involving the processing of three materials.
Friedrich Kanz, Managing Director of Arburg Inc., said: “We were incredibly proud to win the People’s Choice Award at Rapid + TCT 2019. This year, our exhibit will once again feature two Freeformer machines, exciting examples of components, interactive stations and the latest developments in Arburg Plastic Freeforming. We have recently expanded our Freeformer team in the USA. Having firmly established a position in the injection moulding sector of the US market, which is a major priority for Arburg, we now intend to do the same for additive manufacturing.”
Freeformer exhibit produces resorbable implants
The Arburg Plastic Freeforming process is able to cope with highly challenging applications, especially in medical technology, and produces results where no other additive process can. The open system provides a cost-effective way of processing biocompatible, resorbable and sterilisable FDA-approved original plastic granulates – resulting in products such as custom-made orthoses and implants.
Swiss company Samaplast is one example of a customer from the medical technology industry which is already using a Freeformer to process innovative resorbable materials of this type.
The Freeformer machines cater to a wide range of industrial additive manufacturing applications. While the Freeformer 200-3X is equipped with two nozzles as standard, the Freeformer 300-3X is able to process three components as a means of producing complex functional parts in resilient hard/soft combinations with support structures.
The APF process operates on the basis of qualified standard granulates, which are the same as those used for injection moulding.
With just a few minor adjustments, Freeformer machines are suitable for use in clean room environments – something that customers have already proven in practice. They produce very few emissions, are dust-free and have a build chamber that is usually made from stainless steel. Process quality can be documented reliably, and components can be clearly traced as and when required.
