KraussMaffei is showcasing its powerPrint Flex, a modular 3D printing solution for large-format components and tools, at Formnext in Frankfurt, Germany this week. The powerPrint Flex concept offers maximum flexibility with robot-based manufacturing cells.
powerPrint Flex: Scalable manufacturing cell with six-axis robot for additive material extrusion.
The system combines KraussMaffei's extrusion technology with a modular architecture, offering manufacturers a high degree of freedom in terms of design and materials. With powerPrint Flex, production cells can be scaled and individually configured to meet specific customer needs, including components such as thin-walled automotive parts and tools for resin transfer molding (RTM).
Large-format 3D printing enables the rapid, tool-free production of large, thin-walled components with high rigidity and precision, making it ideal for functional prototypes and design studies. This allows design changes to be implemented immediately, development times to be shortened, and costs to be significantly reduced.
The standard configuration of powerPrint Flex includes a Comau N-170 robot within the cell, though various customization options are available.
printCore -- Extruder for industrial additive manufacturing
The print bed measures 2500 x 2000 mm, can be heated up to 180° C, and features 16 vacuum zones for the printing plates. KraussMaffei's in-house developed extruder, printCore 35-25, enables high output rates from 30 to 70 kg per hour, depending on the material feed system. With a maximum melting temperature of 400° C, even the most demanding fiber-reinforced thermoplastics and high-performance polymers can be processed. This makes the system suitable for use in the automotive and aerospace industries, as well as for tool manufacturing and general industrial projects.
Flexible integration of the robot into modular manufacturing systems
powerPrint Flex uses the Sinumerik One system from Siemens to control its six-axis robot. This control system enables precise, dynamic and consistently networked motion control. Thanks to its modular design, powerPrint Flex can be integrated into existing manufacturing environments and expanded with additional functions, such as rotary tables or milling centers. The result is a fully developed solution that is optimally tailored to the respective production process.
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