- Email: [email protected]
AIMPLAS adds filaments extrusion line for 3D printing
TECHNOLOGY
synthesis is important in order to achieve interesting properties in the plastic compounds developed. The right graphene and nanographite processing is also essential, and of AIM-
Reinforced Plastics Volume 60, Number 4 July/August 2016
PLAS’ tasks in this process has been to develop graphene nanocompounds and masterbatches to be used in injection, extrusion and AM processes. For this purpose, the processing conditions have been
improved in each one of the manufacturing stages. AIMPLAS has also developed rods for 3D printing and powder for laser sintering. AIMPLAS; www.aimplas.net
ORNL tests 3D printed molds in autoclave TECHNOLOGY
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s manufacturing demonstration facility collaborated with a team of industry partners to 3D print and machine several large molds, and test them in one of Boeing’s industrial autoclaves. The thermoplastic molds survived the high-temperature, high-pressure conditions in the autoclave, which is used to cure aerospace-grade composite parts. ‘This was the first successful demonstration of 100% digitally manufactured tools in an industrial autoclave,’ said ORNL researcher Vlastimil Kunc. The researchers noted that digital manufacturing could help lower manufacturing costs by accelerating production times. Each tool was printed and machined in a matter of hours, whereas a mold produced with conventional techniques has an average lead time of 14 weeks. ORNL; www.ornl.gov
A 3D printed thermoplastic mold manufactured at ORNL withstood testing in an industrial autoclave.
AIMPLAS adds filaments extrusion line for 3D printing AIMPLAS, the Spanish Plastics Technology Centre, has set up a new extrusion line to create filaments from a wide range of thermoplastic materials that can be used to 3D print parts by means of fused deposition modeling (FDM). This filament extrusion line is equipped with a single-screw extruder, controlled cooling bath, haul-off unit and winding system that can obtain filaments with thicknesses of 1.75 mm and 2.85 mm, and can be modified for other thicknesses. Due to this new equipment, the Plastics Technology Centre is already able to process conventional, technical and biodegradable plastics, elastomers and modified materials, making it possible to identify commercial materials that can be used to produce filaments and develop improved materials using physical or chemical modification to meet customer requirements. It will make it possible to modify materials in order to change their conductivity, 202
This filament extrusion line is equipped with a single-screw extruder, controlled cooling bath, haul-off unit and winding system.
solubility, antimicrobial qualities and so on, AIMPLAS says. The filaments extrusion line is complemented by a complete range of 3D printers
to produce prototypes. AIMPLAS is able to obtain designs by using flexible or rigid filaments of materials with a melt temperature up to 350 8C. The different parameters
TECHNOLOGY
that take part in the 3D printing process can affect the part’s aspect and final properties significantly. AIMPLAS; www.aimplas.net
TECHNOLOGY
Reinforced Plastics Volume 60, Number 4 July/August 2016
203
synthesis is important in order to achieve interesting properties in the plastic compounds developed. The right graphene and nanographite processing is also essential, and of AIM-
Reinforced Plastics Volume 60, Number 4 July/August 2016
PLAS’ tasks in this process has been to develop graphene nanocompounds and masterbatches to be used in injection, extrusion and AM processes. For this purpose, the processing conditions have been
improved in each one of the manufacturing stages. AIMPLAS has also developed rods for 3D printing and powder for laser sintering. AIMPLAS; www.aimplas.net
ORNL tests 3D printed molds in autoclave TECHNOLOGY
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s manufacturing demonstration facility collaborated with a team of industry partners to 3D print and machine several large molds, and test them in one of Boeing’s industrial autoclaves. The thermoplastic molds survived the high-temperature, high-pressure conditions in the autoclave, which is used to cure aerospace-grade composite parts. ‘This was the first successful demonstration of 100% digitally manufactured tools in an industrial autoclave,’ said ORNL researcher Vlastimil Kunc. The researchers noted that digital manufacturing could help lower manufacturing costs by accelerating production times. Each tool was printed and machined in a matter of hours, whereas a mold produced with conventional techniques has an average lead time of 14 weeks. ORNL; www.ornl.gov
A 3D printed thermoplastic mold manufactured at ORNL withstood testing in an industrial autoclave.
AIMPLAS adds filaments extrusion line for 3D printing AIMPLAS, the Spanish Plastics Technology Centre, has set up a new extrusion line to create filaments from a wide range of thermoplastic materials that can be used to 3D print parts by means of fused deposition modeling (FDM). This filament extrusion line is equipped with a single-screw extruder, controlled cooling bath, haul-off unit and winding system that can obtain filaments with thicknesses of 1.75 mm and 2.85 mm, and can be modified for other thicknesses. Due to this new equipment, the Plastics Technology Centre is already able to process conventional, technical and biodegradable plastics, elastomers and modified materials, making it possible to identify commercial materials that can be used to produce filaments and develop improved materials using physical or chemical modification to meet customer requirements. It will make it possible to modify materials in order to change their conductivity, 202
This filament extrusion line is equipped with a single-screw extruder, controlled cooling bath, haul-off unit and winding system.
solubility, antimicrobial qualities and so on, AIMPLAS says. The filaments extrusion line is complemented by a complete range of 3D printers
to produce prototypes. AIMPLAS is able to obtain designs by using flexible or rigid filaments of materials with a melt temperature up to 350 8C. The different parameters
TECHNOLOGY
that take part in the 3D printing process can affect the part’s aspect and final properties significantly. AIMPLAS; www.aimplas.net
TECHNOLOGY
Reinforced Plastics Volume 60, Number 4 July/August 2016
203