Nov 5, 2018 | By Thomas
German RepRap has introduced its first Liquid Additive Manufacturing (LAM) production-ready 3D printer, the L280.
Not just any 3D printing company, RepRap has been carving a sizeable niche for itself for some time now in Liquid Additive Manufacturing (LAM) technology. Founded in 2010 as a straightforward business-to-consumer (B2C) provider, the German company has since upped its game, shifting its focus solely toward devices for professional use in the business-to-business (B2B) sector. Since 2015, RepRap has emphasized the development and distribution of a growing number of research facilities around the world, catching the eye of numerous investors in the process.
The company’s biggest innovation, however, came in 2016 with the launch of its groundbreaking LAM technology. Based on the prototype developed by English scientist Adrian Bowyer, this 3D printing process enables the 3D printing of liquid or high viscosity material such as Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR), allowing for the formation of complex parts that would be impossible to achieve through traditional injection molding.
Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR)
"LAM is a very interesting 3D printing process, because it works with a material that is in a liquid form that is vulcanized under heat exposure to its final form, contrary to the FFF technology – that is based on melting a material and solidifying again," stated the company.
"In this way, objects can be produced that have the same properties as injection-molded parts - a clear advantage because insights from the 3D-printed prototype can be transferred directly to injection-molded serial parts."
With the LAM technology, even the application direction and thus the vulcanization can be influenced at the macro molecular level. As a result, parts can be made stronger than those produced with injection molding.
The L280 offers a build area of 280 x 280 x 200 millimeters (X x Y x Z) and a layer thickness between 0.22 and 0.9 mm. It uses nozzles of 0.23, 0.4 and 0.8 mm, enabling the printing of highly accurate, long lasting objects as well as less detailed but much more rapidly printed components. The L280 provides a heated print bed which increases the adhesion of the printed parts and ensures optimal cross-linking. A high-temperature halogen lamp is used selectively in the process to accelerate the cross-linking. This both reduces print time and increase print quality.
The EVOLV3D LC 3335 Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR) material developed by DOW can be supplied either in cartridges or pail form. The printer has touch display and can print either from USB stick or connected to a network. L280 also includes a safety technology that monitors the curing process and immediately stops the process in case of irregularities. A special light system provides information about the printing status.
Thermal Cross-linking
Moreover, a maintenance contract and a professional on-site service are available as an option from trained technicians using the L280. This includes software and hardware training in addition to maintenance and repair of the 3D printer. The L280 3D printer has “proven its reliability in continuous operation in extensive tests and pilot applications in practice,” stated German RepRap.
Specifications:
- Build platform: (XxYxZ) 280 x 280 x 200 mm
- Print speed: 10 - 150 mm/s
- Travel speed: 10 - 300 mm/s
- Position accuracy: (X/Y) +/- 0.1 mm/s
- Layer height: (min.) 0.22 - 0.9 mm
- Material: EVOLV3D™ LC 3335 Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR)
- Nozzle options: 0.23 | 0.4 | 0.8 mm
- Print bed temperature: 110°C
- Options: Maintenance contract, material pails
- File transfer: USB, Stand-alone printing with touch display, ethernet
- Software: Simplify3D Software
- Operating voltage: 230 VAC
- Ambient temperature: 15-26°C
- Outer dimensions (WxDxH): Printer with cartridge system: 700 x 700 x 2040 mm
- Printer with material pails: 700 x 700 x 2260 mm
- Weight: 120 kg (without material removal system)
- Technology: LAM (Liquid Additive Manufacturing)
German RepRap will debut the L280 3D printer at Formnext, which will be taking place in Frankfurt, Germany from November 13th to 16th.
Posted in 3D Printer
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