Formnext Premiere for the user-friendly Arburg-Freeformer 550-X

Related Vendors

ARBURG GmbH & Co. KG

SIMTOS (Seoul International Machine Tool Show)

At the upcoming Formnext, the 3D printer Freeformer 550-X from Arburgadditive, featuring a Gestica planning assistant, will make its world premiere. There will also be further developments and application highlights.

With Freeformers and 3D printers from the TiQ and LiQ series, Arburgadditive offers a suitable system for practically any requirement in additive manufacturing, as emphasized by the Formnext exhibitor. The new Freeformer 550-3X is also celebrated as an industrial machine with features that will enable even untrained workers to quickly and reliably print high-quality functional parts. A major advantage is the ability to draw on extensive know-how and capitalize on synergies with the injection molding world—such as in terms of control, automation, turnkey solutions, and digitalization. In addition, Arburg will showcase numerous practical examples at Formnext 2024. But first, more on the premiere highlight...

New Freeformer comes with state-of-the-art technology

In Frankfurt am Main, Arburg is presenting, specifically, a prototype of the Freeformer 550-3X equipped with the latest technology for processing a broad spectrum of different original plastic granulates using Arburg Plastic Freeforming (APF). The new machine is equipped with two discharge units and a build chamber measuring 230 × 230 × 230 millimeters. Although slightly smaller, it is also more cost-effective than the Freeformer 750-3X. In addition, it is expected to replace the Freeformer 200-3X, as reported. Notably, the Freeformer 550-3X is equally attractive to industrial customers and users in the medical technology sector. As such, resorbable implants made from an original medical material will be on display at the fair. The most recent features of the open system include enhanced droplet discharge, optimized material change, and most importantly, the new production assistant, as emphasized by Arburg. This assistant actively supports the operator through the Gestica control system, functioning from the loading of the construction job to the start of 3D printing. This significantly eases machine operation and enables even non-experts to produce components additively with process reliability, without errors, and in high quality.

New materials can be printed by Arburg

At the fair, a Freeformer model 750-3X in a high-temperature version processes Ultem 9085, a material approved for aerospace applications. A new demonstration will show how break-away support structures made of this costly material can be reused multiple times as flakes. Also new in the AKF material portfolio is TR 90, a material approved for food and drinking water. This amorphous PA12 (polyamide) in its original granulate form has been made "3D printable" by Arburgadditive in cooperation with Ems Chemie, enabling the additive manufacturing of flexible and chemical-resistant sports eyeglass frames. This innovation significantly shortens the development time for injection molded products and accelerates time-to-market.

High-performance printing from plastics and LSR

Also featured is the now available filament printer TiQ 8 from "InnovatiQ," as further explained by Arburg. It features a build space heated to high temperatures, measuring 500 × 400 × 450 millimeters, making it suitable, for example, for the additive manufacturing of durable components for the transport sector using flame-resistant materials such as PC (Polycarbonate) and PEKK (Polyetheretherketone). In collaboration with Kuka, the manufacturer also showcases an interesting gripper application. Moreover, for the first time, the processing of Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR) using a special support material is presented. For this purpose, the LiQ 5 type printer is equipped with a second print head. The exhibit demonstrates 3D printing with original LSR from Shin-Etsu in various Shore hardnesses, which would allow for the production of customized orthopedic accessories and products for the food sector.